The Honourable François-Philippe Champagne, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and the Honourable Bardish Chagger, Minister of Diversity and Inclusion and Youth, today issued the following statement:
"Today, we pay tribute to the more than 500,000 Romani who were murdered and persecuted during the Holocaust by the Nazis and their collaborators.
"Recognizing and commemorating the Romani genocide-also known as the Porajmos and Samudaripen-reminds us of the horrific consequences when we let intolerance and bigotry take root. We must not forget the atrocities faced by the Romani people and the harrowing stories of victims and survivors.
"Still today, Romani populations around the world continue to be subjected to racism, prejudice, violence and persecution, especially Romani women, who endure significant discrimination and social exclusion.
"As a member of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance [IHRA], Canada continues to work with others to promote greater awareness of the Romani genocide, including through the IHRA's Committee on the Genocide of the Roma.
"During these unprecedented times, we must recall that minorities around the world continue to be marginalized. We must continue to condemn all forms of discrimination, and we must never relent in our push for a more equal and more inclusive world."
Contacts
Syrine Khoury
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Foreign Affairs
