The International Roma Day is an event dedicated to the recognition of the culture, history and rights of millions of Roma, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) said in a press release, write Agerpres.

„The MAE welcomes the International Roma Day, an event traditionally marked on April 8 and dedicated to the recognition of the culture, history and rights of millions of Roma around the world.

The 8th of April is also dedicated to the „Celebration of the Roma Ethnicity in Romania.” On this occasion, the MAE reaffirms the value of dialogue between cultures and reiterates the importance of respecting and valuing the Roma cultural heritage and identity as a vector for the development of an inclusive society based on mutual respect,” the press release reads.

According to the MAE, the two celebrations provide an opportunity to reiterate the need to firmly combat attitudes that incite hate speech or hate crimes against representatives of the Roma community.

MAE will continue to support the efforts to completely eliminate all forms of discrimination and exclusion against Roma and will support, through its powers, the efforts of governmental authorities and civil society in favour of interculturality and social inclusion of Romanian citizens belonging to the Roma minority.

The initiative to mark International Roma Day came in 1971, on the occasion of the first International Congress of Roma everywhere, which took place in London. In Eastern European countries, including Romania, April 8 has been dedicated to Roma Day since 1990. The „Roma Ethnicity Day in Romania” was established by Law no. 66/2006.