Six centuries of resistance of the Roma people in Europe: from Romania to Seville, Spain
The Roma people have faced centuries of persecution and stigma in Europe, with half a million exterminated in the 1940s during the Nazi regime. New generations are asserting their rights, but political participation remains an unfulfilled promise.
Maria Stanescu, a 70-year-old Roma woman, was born on the road and grew up a nomad. Her family was persecuted during the Nazi regime, with 40 members sent to forced labor camps in 1942. The Roma genocide, or Samudaripen, resulted in the extermination of half a million people, a figure acknowledged by the European Union. Sociologist Gelu Duminica notes that the Roma people originated from Punjab, India, and were enslaved in Europe for five centuries. The European Commission estimates that 10-12 million Roma live in Europe, with 1.3 million in Romania and 800,000 in Spain. The EU has adopted a Strategic Framework for Roma equality and inclusion to be implemented from 2020-2030.
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