International Roma Day celebrated in Chisinau

Romani people in Moldova are celebrating today, April 8, the International Day of the Roma for the 10th consecutive year, holding a series of events in an attempt to raise public awareness of their problems, Info-Prim Neo reports. The Roma are still struggling with discrimination, their rights are often violated and they face great difficulties with school enrollment and employment, says Nicolae Radita, the chairman of the National Roma Council. Nine in ten Roma people in Moldova don't have a job. “It's a disaster and it needs to be urgently solved”, underlined Radita. Also, the Roma have little access to basic medical services and are often treated with indifference. “The worst thing is that there is a lack of will on the part of the authorities to engage seriously in addressing the Roma's problems, and if there's no will, nothing can be resolved”, said Radita, adding that the adoption of a law is necessary in order to prevent any form of discrimination against the Roma. Attending the event, Prime Minister Vladimir Filat said multi-dimensional integration of the Roma in Moldovan society is a priority. He said the government understands what it needs to do and is open to hearing the problems of the Roma. “You should consider us to be your partners so that with joint effort we can resolve your problems”, Filat stated. On the occasion of the International Roma Day, the Bureau for Inter-ethnic Relations unveiled an exhibition displaying drawings made by Roma children, folk costumes, cuisine, tools, and handcrafted objects of the Roma. Moldova is home to about 200,000 Roma people.