„Meaningful pioneering work on monitoring antiziganism“
Amaro Foro publishes documentation of antigypsyist incidents and looks back on 10 years of DOSTA
„Ten years ago, we founded the Documentation Center on Antigypsyism (DOSTA) to record antigypsyist incidents. Even then, we knew there was a lot of work to be done. Since 2014, 1,502 cases have been documented. We have thus done important pioneering work in monitoring antigypsyism. Discriminatory experiences while shopping, at school, at work, at government offices, or at the doctor’s office are part of everyday life for many Romani people,“ says Violeta Balog, board member of Amaro Foro e.V. and project manager of DOSTA. In 2023, DOSTA documented 210 incidents. It can be assumed that there are many more unreported cases. As before, particularly high numbers of cases are reported in contact with authorities and in the education sector. “However, through years of documentation work, we have succeeded in putting the issue of antigypsyism on the political agenda,” Balog continues.
Ten years of DOSTA also means ten years of media monitoring. Our analysis of media reports shows that discourses of delegitimization and criminalization, such as those directed against Roma refugees from the Republic of Moldova, have recently had political repercussions. The perspectives of those affected are still missing where they are particularly important. For example, there is hardly any reporting on the consequences of deportations or antigypsyist police violence. “To ensure that antigypsyism remains visible in the future, the work of self-organizations will remain essential,” says Balog.
Amaro Foro e.V. is a transcultural self-organization of Romani and non-Romani people. Together, we are committed to fighting antigypsyism and promoting participation and equal opportunities. “Amaro Foro” is Romani and means “our city.”
Press contact
Geena Birkenmeier
presse@amaroforo.de
