Book project with ENAR on Antigypsyism

Call for authors for ENAR publication on Antigypsyism

ENAR, in close collaboration with the Central Council of German Sinti and Roma is currently seeking authors to contribute articles to an ENAR publication on Antigypsyism in the European Union, as part of the ‘ENAR Anti-racism Series’.

This book’s aim is to raise attention to the phenomenon of Antigypsyism and how it affects Roma and society at large in various areas of life, focusing on strategies to tackle it. The publication is planned to be a mix of academic and activist writing on policy and legal strategies to counter Antigypsyism.

We use the Alliance against Antigypsyism’s definition which goes as follows:

“Antigypsyism is a historically constructed, persistent complex of customary racism against social groups identified under the stigma ‘gypsy’ or other related terms, and incorporates: A homogenizing and essentializing perception and description of these groups; The attribution of specific characteristics to them; Discriminating social structures and violent practices that emerge against that background, which have a degrading and ostracizing effect and which reproduce structural disadvantages.”

Based on ENAR’s years of experience working at the grassroots level to counter racism in Europe, the work of Roma and pro-Roma civil society organisations and numerous discussions and conferences, the following key elements have emerged:

  • Despite the EU Framework for National Roma Integration Strategies adopted in 2011 and the legislative framework in place to protect Roma from discrimination and hate crime, Roma continue to be increasingly targeted by racism, i.e. Antigypsyism.
  • The Roma inclusion approach has proven its limits and failures by overlooking the impacts of racism on Roma’s lives and society as a whole. A shift in focus and priority is therefore needed to address Antigypsyism as a core and structural issue.
  • Local organisations and authorities play a vital role in the successful implementation of the National Roma Integration Strategies, and therefore to address Antigypsyism.
    In recent years, there has been a resurgence of Antigypsyist violence, and Roma are increasingly victims of racist attacks, serious human rights abuses and hate speech by both state and non-state parties, both offline and online.
  • A stronger focus should be put on the recognition and operationalisation of the fight against Antigypsyism as a root cause of Roma exclusion.
  • Consequently, a critical political discourse must be promoted, with a need to raise awareness of Antigypsyism and the impact it has on Roma’s lives in Europe.

We are looking for articles tackling the following topics:

  1. Successful advocacy strategies to combat Antigypsyism, both local and international
  2. Political recognition of Antigypsyism at Member State and EU levels
  3. Addressing Antigypsyism in the National Roma Integration Strategies
  4. Countering structural and institutional dimensions/manifestations of Antigypsyism
  5. Recognition of historical persecutions (including Roma slavery, Roma genocide, registrations, forced sterilisation, etc.)
  6. Equality data collection as a tool to address Antigypsyism
  7. Monitoring Antigypsyism to efficiently address it in policy making
  8. Inclusive feminism as a way to combat Antigypsyism
  9. Addressing racist violence and crime targeting Roma or with an Antigypsyist intention
  10. Countering online and offline prejudices and hate speech against Roma in public narratives, including by politicians (including election campaigns), media and culture
  11. Building coalitions with minorities affected by multiple forms of discrimination and oppression (including other forms of racism)
  12. Addressing access to justice issues and impunity
  13. Political participation and representation as a means to combat Antigypsyism (including the specific role of youth)
  14. Human rights/non-discrimination laws, National action plans against racism: tools to address Antigypsyism?
  15. Addressing Antigypsyism in academia

Objectives of the publication

Overall goal:
The overall goal of this publication is to contribute to close the information gap on Antigypsyism and focus on actions to address it. It aims to inform key stakeholders, including decision-makers, and increase the political will and mobilization of civil society and European institutions towards recognition of Antigypsyism as a specific form of racism, as well as its mainstreaming and operationalisation in EU and Member States’ policy processes.

Specific objectives:

- To develop an understanding of the manifestations and implications of Antigypsyism
- To detail and assess success factors of advocacy strategies combating manifestations of Antigypsyism
- To support policy making and advocacy campaigns by sharing knowledge and expertise on successful actions and models

Target audience of the book: activists, policy makers, academics, practitioners

Technical details

The articles should be based on the author’s knowledge of the topic and with the aim to cover the various themes listed. Authors must possess skills in composing either scientific writing or literary narration, and adhere to the applicable methodology. Authors are asked to structure their texts as clearly as possible to meet the objectives of the publication. Clear and easily understandable English language should be used to convey the subject matter. Each submission should not be longer than 15 normal DIN4 pages (A4), in 1.5 spaced Times New Roman, font-size 12, Microsoft Word format. Authors are requested to identify relevant references and to provide a bibliography.

Deadline and submission procedure

Anyone interested in contributing to one of these topics is invited to send the following documents before 27 October 2017 to the email address book.coordinator@enar-eu.org:

- a short abstract of the article you wish to submit to this publication (600 words maximum)
- a CV outlining your experience and relevant publications

If your angle is approved by the review committee, the deadline for submitting the finished article in English is 4 December 2017. You will be asked to review your article based on comments in January 2018.

Questions can be directed to Julie Pascoet, ENAR Senior Advocacy Officer, +32 2 229 35 74.

Related topics and contributions: