seeking historical justice. Dr. Sławomir Kapralski, from the Pedagogical University of Kraków, inaugurated this session with a presentation “From History of Roma to Roma History? Between Academic Historiography and Political Mobilization”. Subsequently, Pierre Chopinaud, from French Roma organization Le Voix des Rroms, discussed “Action, Autonomy, Re-appropriation and Multiplicity: A "Romani Resistance" Methodology”. Andrzej Łuczak and Andrzej Sochaj from the Institute of Romani Heritage and Memory and Holocaust Victims talked about the work of their institution and their more recent historical findings. Andree Morgan Andrews, a Welsh Romani Gypsy activist, and Andrzej Mirga, Chair of Roma Education Fund (REF), provided further insight into the importance of Romani historical narratives.
The last panel, “The Future of Roma History and the Role of Roma Youth”, covered the future of practices of commemoration, teaching and increased visibility of Roma history as part of European and national histories. It focused explicitly on emphasizing the immensely important role of Roma youth activists and organizations in shaping these practices. The session discussed gaps, difficulties and ideas for the future as well as the role of Roma youth as multipliers, disseminators, activists, researchers and stakeholders, shaping Roma historical narratives. The panellists included: Daniel Grebeldinger, ternYpe, international Roma Youth Network “Dikh he I na bister” and Roma Genocide Remembrance Initiative (Romania); Jashar Jasharov, Contact Point for Roma and Sinti Issues, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights; Irina Spataru, Romano Centro (Austria); Justyna Matkowska, the Ethnic and National Minorities Plenipotentiary of the Dolnośląskie Voivode, PhD candidate at University of Wrocław and singer in “Siostry Matkowskie” (Poland); and Laco Oravec, Milan Simecka Foundation (Slovakia).
In parallel to the conference, workshops for high-school students about Roma were held by Roma youth activists Noemi and Delfin Łakatosz in the Galicia Jewish Museum. This was an important moment when the youngest generation of Roma artists and activists could meet and pass on their passion and knowledge to their non-Roma peers, through informal education.
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