Germany: Sinti and Roma children suffer discrimination – DW – 04/02/2025 (2025)

The latest study on antiziganism quotes several examples of discrimination of Sinti and Roma in the German education system.

There's one report onelementary school students bullying their Sinto classmate to the point where he was too afraid to go to school. Teachers then threatened hisparents with reporting their children's frequent absence to the youth welfare office. That institution could have the child removed from hisfamily.

Another report says a daycare center deemed that a five-year-old, trilingual Sinto child had a developmental delay. It wanted to send him to a special needs kindergarten, despite the fact that a pediatrician could not detect any developmental issue.

There are several reports that schools refused admission to Sinti and Roma children or wanted to move them to special schools because they believe Sinti and Roma families in general cause problems.

"We are receiving reports of assaults and attacks against Sinti and Roma in kindergartens and schools in all German states. Verbal bullying, but also physical attacks, in which children are systematically beaten," Guillermo Ruiz told DW. He is the Managing Director of the Reporting and Information Center for Antiziganism in Germany, which published the study "Antiziganism in the educational sector using schools and daycare centers as an example."

"It's alarming how often teachers do not intervene to prevent bullying and physical attacks.We hear of such incidents every day –– although schools should be a safe space where children feel comfortable and protected. But that's often not the case," Ruiz continued.

Ruiz recalls other more disturbing accounts of antiziganism in German educational institutions, too. For instance, when a student asked her teacher if it was true that Sinti and Roma were murdered during the Holocaust, the teacher replied that, yes, it was trueand added the bodies including that of the student'sgrandfather had been used to make soap.

The center's study presents a frightening picture of racism against Sinti and Roma, even among children and adolescents.

"When you're bullied at such a young age, and you feel that you're not equal —when you are not treated equally that often has consequences. It can damage the self-esteem of children and young people," Ruiz explained.

All complaints of discrimination over the past years have not had an effect on German schools, Ruiz says. Hecalls for more psychologists and sociologists to be employed in the schools; for more teachers to take on the role of confidants and help lead children out of the spiral of exclusion; and for antiziganism awareness to be incorporated into teacher training programs –– something that the German state of Saarland has already done.

"We need an 'inclusive school' where the history of Sinti and Roma, the Holocaust, and contemporary antiziganism are taught and the teaching staff are aware of these things. We also need effectivemechanisms, so that parents can file complaints. And if antiziganism is proven to have taken place, there must be consequences," said Ruiz.

Institutional racism increasing due to shift to the far right

The 11,000 Roma and Sinti residents of the town of Eisenberg in the state of Thuringia can go toRenata Conkova for assistance. She heads the regional association of Sinti and Roma, RomnoKher. Conkova comes from a Roma family in Slovakia, and has been advising 250 Roma families in this region in Thuringia for the past four years.

"It is about school, doctor's visits, looking for housing, work, things like registering with the family benefits office, the job center, or even set court dates. It is also about children's education, custody cases, and translations. I am a counselor for every difficult life situation. And I fight for integration and against racism every day," she explained.

Conkova is all too familiar with antiziganism in German schools –– however, she saidthere were also some success stories:"In Greiz, we started a literacy course for Ukrainian Roma children. And many Roma mothers can now see that they don't have to fear for their children when they go to school."

At the same time, Conkova has noticed that institutional racism has increased with the shift to the right in Germany –– especially in Thuringia, a stronghold of the far-right populistAlternative for Germany (AfD) party. There, she says, many doctors no longer have any qualms about publicly stating that they do not accept Roma patients. The call"foreigners out" is also heard more often.

"Integration means the door is open to both sides. But for us, it's closed," she said.

First Federal Commissioner against Antiziganism

Mehmet Daimagüler, the first Federal Government Commissioner against Antiziganism and for the Lives of Sinti and Roma in Germany, has held the office since May 1, 2022. He has been fighting tirelessly against this form of racism for the past three years.

He told DW that the study results on antiziganism in schools and kindergartens did not surprise him, as racism against Sinti and Roma is common in the state sector.

"Antiziganism is particularly deep-rooted in society. For those who think and act in a racist way, it is a part of normality. And of course, all of the prejudices that people holdregardingthe parents are projected onto the children," Daimagüler told DW.

He says he is mostly satisfied with his achievements as Federal Commissioner. In December 2023, Daimagüler initiated a Bundestag resolution containing 27 parliamentary demands on the government regarding the participation, protection, and strengthening of Sinti and Roma communities. It was supported by all parliamentary groups — except the AfD. A federal-state commission to combat antiziganism was also established.

He says it is needed now more than ever, given the growing social shift to the right in Germany.

"Antiziganism has become much more visible," Daimagüler said."On the one hand, via the reporting centers. And on the other, via the general trend toward linguistic brutalization in society, which is also happening here."

With the impending change of government, Daimagüler's term as the Federal Antiziganism Commissioner will end —and it is unclear whether the office will continue to exist.

"Its end would be very regrettable. Because we also receive many inquiries from abroad, especially from Eastern Europe. There, people are very curious and interested in watching how Germany is addressing this issue. We're already setting a precedent in this regard. And now we're in danger of regressing — rather than progressing,"Daimagüler warns.

This article was originally written in German.

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