The International Romani Union ( Romani : Romano Internacionalno Jekhetanipe ), formerly known as the International Gypsy Committee and International Rom Committee , is an organization active for the rights of the Romani people . Its seat is in Vienna . The International Romani Union also has offices in Skopje, North Macedonia , and Washington, D.C., US .
19-499: The IRU was established at the second World Romani Congress in 1978. Its presidents have included Stanislav Stankiewicz, Emil Ščuka, and before him, Rajko Đurić , who held this office for many years. The current president of the IRU is Zoran Dimov, who was elected during the 10th congress which was held on 18–20 March 2016 in Skopje, Macedonia. It was attended by 100 delegates and members of
38-688: A document which outlined plans for the development of Romani nationalism and representation. Esma Redžepova performed the Romani anthem . The eighth Congress was held in Sibiu , Romania, in April 2013. Approximately 250 delegates from 34 countries attended the meeting. The ninth Congress was held in Riga, Latvia , in August 2015. Approximately 250 delegates from 25 countries were in attendance. 21 countries out of
57-702: A new president for the International Romani Union (Stanisław Stankiewicz of Poland ) and a new president of the World Parliament of the IRU (Dragan Jevremovic of Austria ). A new committee was set up to examine issues surrounding women, families and children. The seventh Congress was held in Zagreb , Croatia, in October 2008. Almost 300 delegates from 28 countries attended the meeting, which released The Roma Nation Building Action Plan,
76-523: A registered NGO with UNICEF in 1986. In 1993, it was promoted to category II, special consultative status at the United Nations . The IRU consists of four bodies: congress, parliament, presidium, and court of justice. The IRU has institutional links with the Council of Europe , OSCE (ODHIR), UNHCHR , UNO and ERTF . The IRU has a memorandum of understanding with many other countries with
95-530: Is an organization active for the rights of the Romani people . Its seat is in Vienna . The International Romani Union also has offices in Skopje, North Macedonia , and Washington, D.C., US . The IRU was established at the second World Romani Congress in 1978. Its presidents have included Stanislav Stankiewicz, Emil Ščuka, and before him, Rajko Đurić , who held this office for many years. The current president of
114-594: The Council of Europe the following year. The committee changed again at the 1978 World Romani Congress and took its present name. It was given consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council the following year. The union became a registered NGO with UNICEF in 1986. In 1993, it was promoted to category II, special consultative status at the United Nations . The IRU consists of four bodies: congress, parliament, presidium, and court of justice. The IRU has institutional links with
133-468: The Council of Europe , OSCE (ODHIR), UNHCHR , UNO and ERTF . The IRU has a memorandum of understanding with many other countries with a view to the "continuous improvement of the situation and living conditions of the Rom". World Romani Congress The World Romani Congress ( Romani : Mashkarthemutno Romano Kongreso ) is a series of forums for discussion of issues relating to Roma people around
152-970: The International Gypsy Committee (founded in 1965) was renamed the Komiteto Lumniako Romano (International Rom Committee). The second Congress in April 1978, was held in Geneva , Switzerland, and attended by 120 delegates from 26 countries. Attendees helped transform the International Rom Committee into the International Romani Union . The third Congress was held in Göttingen , West Germany, in May 1981, with 600 delegates and observers from 28 countries. Attendees supported
171-611: The 25 in attendance formed a Federation to tackle the issues afflicting the Romani people. The tenth Congress was held in Skopje , North Macedonia, in March 2016. The eleventh Congress was held in Berlin , Germany, on 15–17 May 2023. International Romani Union The International Romani Union ( Romani : Romano Internacionalno Jekhetanipe ), formerly known as the International Gypsy Committee and International Rom Committee ,
190-718: The French government dissolved the CMG in 1965, a breakaway group formed the International Gypsy Committee (IGC) under the leadership of Vanko Rouda. When the 1971 World Romani Congress adopted the self-appellation of "Roma" rather than gypsy, the IGC was renamed the Komiteto Lumniako Romano (International Rom Committee or IRC), and Rouda was re-confirmed as president. The committee became a member of
209-417: The IGC was renamed the Komiteto Lumniako Romano (International Rom Committee or IRC), and Rouda was re-confirmed as president. The committee became a member of the Council of Europe the following year. The committee changed again at the 1978 World Romani Congress and took its present name. It was given consultative status at the United Nations Economic and Social Council the following year. The union became
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#1732794229056228-639: The IRU from 40 countries. After that, a new leadership of the IRU parliament chaired by the past head of parliament Stevo Balogh from Austria was elected. The IRU has a consultative ECOSOC status within the UN. In 1959, Ionel Rotaru founded the World Gypsy Community (CMG) in France . While members were mostly French, the organization made contacts in Poland , Canada , Turkey , and other countries. When
247-416: The IRU is Zoran Dimov, who was elected during the 10th congress which was held on 18–20 March 2016 in Skopje, Macedonia. It was attended by 100 delegates and members of the IRU from 40 countries. After that, a new leadership of the IRU parliament chaired by the past head of parliament Stevo Balogh from Austria was elected. The IRU has a consultative ECOSOC status within the UN. In 1959, Ionel Rotaru founded
266-413: The World Gypsy Community (CMG) in France . While members were mostly French, the organization made contacts in Poland , Canada , Turkey , and other countries. When the French government dissolved the CMG in 1965, a breakaway group formed the International Gypsy Committee (IGC) under the leadership of Vanko Rouda. When the 1971 World Romani Congress adopted the self-appellation of "Roma" rather than gypsy,
285-550: The call for Roma to be recognized as a national minority of Indian origin. The Porajmos was a major topic of discussion. In 1990, the fourth Congress was held in Serock , Poland, with 250 delegates attending. Discussion topics included World War II reparations , education, culture, public relations, language, and a Romani language encyclopedia. The International Day of the Roma was also officially declared as April 8, in honour of
304-534: The congress, the green and blue flag from the 1933 conference of the General Association of the Gypsies of Romania, embellished with the red, sixteen-spoked chakra , was reaffirmed as the national emblem of the Roma people, and the song " Gelem, Gelem " was adopted as the Roma anthem. Usage of the word "Roma" (rather than variants of "gypsy") was also accepted by a majority of attendees; as a result,
323-603: The first World Romani Congress meeting in 1971. The fifth World Romani Congress was held in Prague , Czech Republic in July 2000. Emil Ščuka was elected president of the International Romani Union. The Congress produced the official Declaration of the Romani non-territorial nation. The sixth Congress was held in Lanciano , Italy, on October 8 and 9, 2004, with participation from over 200 delegates from 39 countries. Delegates chose
342-408: The world. As of 2023 , there have been eleven World Romani Congresses. Among the chief goals of these congresses have been the standardization of the Romani language , improvements in civil rights and education, preservation of the Roma culture, reparations from World War II , and international recognition of the Roma as a national minority of Indian native origin. The first World Romani Congress
361-733: Was organized in 1971 in Orpington near London , England, United Kingdom, funded in part by the World Council of Churches and the Government of India . It was attended by 23 representatives from ten nations (Czechoslovakia, Finland, Norway, France, Great Britain, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Spain and Yugoslavia) and observers from Belgium, Canada, India and the United States. Five sub-commissions were created to examine social affairs, education, war crimes, language, and culture. At
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