Original scientific paper
https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.17234/RadoviZHP.55.29
The Role of Roma from Yugoslavia in the Development of the International Romani Movement, 1971-1981 (Summary)
Bibijana Papo Hutinec
Abstract
This paper analyses the role of Roma from Yugoslavia in the development of the international Romani movement in the 1971-1981 period. Roma from Yugoslavia started the Roma emancipation initiative in the late 1960s with the idea of creating a Roma nation that will achieve social equality. They demanded a reversal in the approach to the Roma – which entailed eliminating use of the term Gypsy and ending the degradation of the Roma, as well as the need for official recognition of the Roma as a nationality. These demands were soon transposed into the international Romani movement. The international Romani movement gained its contours through the framework of the world Roma congresses and the International Romani Union. During the 1970s and 1980s, three congresses were held: in London in 1971, Geneva in 1978 and Göttingen in 1981. The delegations from Yugoslavia that participated in world Roma congresses were supported by sociopolitical organizations (Socialist League of Working People, SSRN) in their work.
The achievement of the Movement’s goals was positively influenced by renewed ties between the Roma and India. These relations culminated during the tenure of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. India supported the Roma in the political demands they made at the UN forum. The development of the international Romani movement was aided by the sound relations between two of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement, India and Yugoslavia. Roma participation in the international Romani movement was an additional element of Yugoslav foreign policy. It was an opportunity to demonstrate the policy of non-alignment, but also the Yugoslav policy toward the Roma, which was based not only on the notion of the Roma as a social class, as in majority socialist countries, but also as an ethnic group with recognized cultural rights.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
316298
URI
Publication date:
20.4.2024.
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