Federal Roma Congress 2025

80 years after the Second World War and the Samudaripen, we are experiencing a serious increase in racism, right-wing extremism, and marginalization in Germany and many other European countries. Sinti and Roma are not even mentioned in the coalition agreement of the newly constituted federal government.

The opening on May 16th will look back on the past 80 years: How far have we come in recognizing the genocide? What were the consequences, and what conclusions still need to be drawn? What is the situation in Germany and other European countries?


Public Program

May 16, 2025

5:00 PM Opening: 80 Years of Liberation – What Happened So Far

5:10–5:30 PM Input: The Consequences of the Samudaripen in Eastern Europe and the Current Situation, Orhan Tahir, Lawyer and Journalist

5:30–7:00 PM Panel Discussion: The Aftermath of the Genocide in Europe: The Current State of Affairs; Panel Guests:

* PD Dr. Jane Weiß, former member of the UKA, academic * Kenan Emini, Roma Center e.V. & Federal Roma Association e.V. * Vicente Rodriguez, La Orden del Fenix * Daniela Abraham, Sinti and Roma Holocaust Memorial Trust

Moderated by Estera Stan


May 17, 2025

5:00–6:30 PM Panel Discussion: Actively Implementing Measures Against Discrimination

With guests from politics:

* Member of Parliament Helge Lindh, SPD * Member of Parliament Filiz Polat, Alliance 90/The Greens * Alina Voinea, Berlin Senate Antigypsy Commissioner * Member of Parliament Clara Bünger, The Left

Moderated by Sandra Goerend, Roma Center e.V.

6:30–7:30 PM Panel Discussion in two rounds: Roma in Germany. Situation and perspectives with guests from Roma self-organizations:

* Dzoni Sichelschmidt, ROMED Germany e.V. * Renata Conkova, State Association of Sinti and Roma RomnoKher Thuringia e.V. * Selhone Gasnjan * Kjemal Ahmed, Central Welfare Association of Roma and Sinti in Germany e.V. * Leonarda Bajrić, Group Against Anti-Romaism * Riccardo M. Sahiti, Roma and Sinti Philharmonic Orchestra e.V. * Zumreta Sejdović, Romani Kafava e.V. * Radoslav Ganev, Romanity e.V.

Moderated by Estera Stan

All interested parties are cordially invited to the public program. Registration is not required and admission is free.


When: May 16 and 17, 2025

Where: Green Salon of the Volksbühne, Rosa-Luxemburg-Platz 2, 10178 Berlin

Internal Program for Roma Self-Organizations

From May 16 to 18, non-public networking meetings and workshops will take place. These are aimed at members of Roma self-organizations and members of the community.

These will take place on May 16 from 3 p.m. and on the mornings of May 17 and 18.

For further information and registration, please contact: info@roma-center.de