On 2 August, on the occasion of European Roma Holocaust Memorial Day, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights, Michael O’Flaherty, issued the following statement emphasising the importance of memorialisation initiatives and supporting the communities in telling their history:

“Today we remember the Holocaust perpetrated against Roma and Sinti across Europe. We recall the over 500,000 people who were murdered during the Second World War. We resolve to ensure that these people are honoured, that they are never forgotten and that we continuously learn from their dreadful experience in order to build a better future.

Central to all of this is how we remember, the respectful way in which we acknowledge the lives of each of the people who were murdered. That is why I so very much believe in the importance of memorialisation in museums. Just a few days ago I visited the Imperial War Museum in London and I am glad to say that there was a dedicated section there to the Holocaust against Roma and Sinti.

A few months back I went to Heidelberg to visit the very important museum in that city that tells this story. It is very powerfully told, it is very expressive, it is very compelling and it makes an impact on everybody who crosses through its door. We need to invest and reinvest in initiatives such as these, not just in one or two places but right across our continent.

I acknowledge with the deepest of respect the way in which Roma cultural practitioners are themselves telling the story of the genocide and helping us learn the lessons to go forward. And I strongly encourage that there be a reinvestment in this and as much possible support to it as we can possibly give. I look forward to advancing in my work guided by the Roma and Sinti communities in order together to build that better future which must be our goal.”