Genocide of Roma in Zakarpattia: attempting to understand
Year of publication: 2023
Type: Manual
Topic: Human rights

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Genocide of Roma in Zakarpattia: attempting to understand

Report prepared by:

Yevheniia Navrotska

About publication

The book "Genocide of Roma in Zakarpattia: Attempting to Understand" is a comprehensive educational and methodological study dedicated to the little-known tragedy of the Porajmos (the Roma Holocaust) in the context of Zakarpattia's history. The author details the mechanisms of discrimination and physical destruction of the Roma community, analyzing both the ideological foundations (specifically the racist "scientific" research of the 1930s) and the regulatory and legal framework of totalitarian regimes that led to mass repressions. Of particular value are the documented eyewitness accounts and archival materials that shed light on the fate of the Roma during World War II and their post-war persecution.

Who will benefit?

  • School teachers
  • Activists

Key findings:

Modern inclusion of the Roma community is impossible without a deep awareness of historical traumas and the overcoming of rooted stereotypes. The author's conclusions emphasize the need to include Roma history in school curricula to foster tolerance and critical thinking among youth. The author argues that genocide begins not with murders, but with gradual alienation and disenfranchisement; therefore, knowledge of the past serves as a tool for combating contemporary hate speech and discrimination.