20188

Safeguarding Romani Language – 7th International Conference

November 5, 2026
Academic Section Event - Upcoming Knowledge Production Language

 

The Romani language remains a cornerstone of Roma identity, cultural heritage and community belonging. As efforts to preserve and develop the language continue to grow, new opportunities are emerging to strengthen its transmission, accessibility and everyday use through collaboration, innovation and digital technologies.

 

On 5 November 2026, the European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture (ERIAC) and the Roma and Travellers Division of the Council of Europe will host the 7th International Conference ‘Safeguarding Romani Language’ at Palais de l’Europe in Strasbourg. Linguists, policymakers, technology experts and Romani writers from across Europe will discuss how Romani language can be taught, shared and used in classrooms, in institutions and in the digital world. The conference will take place in Room 10 and the Hemicycle, with remote participation possible via Zoom upon registration.

 

The conference is a key part of ERIAC’s Romani Language Initiative, launched in 2020 under the International Cultural Outreach Program funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. Since then, the Initiative has become a meeting point for linguists, educators, writers, policymakers and cultural practitioners working to preserve and develop the Romani language. It also supports dialogue on harmonising how the language is used across borders. This year’s conference comes at a key moment: the Council of Europe has made the harmonisation, protection and teaching of Romani a specific operational objective of its Strategy for Roma and Traveller Inclusion (2026–2030).

 

This year’s programme reflects on the progress achieved so far and the opportunities that lie ahead, exploring recent developments in Romani language policy and harmonisation before turning to the potential of Artificial Intelligence to support the language while keeping community ownership at its centre.  

 

The conference concludes with a public literary event around The Tree of the Romani Language, an installation by French Romani artist Marina Rosselle, which becomes a symbolic meeting place for contemporary Romani literature.

 

Register to participate: REGISTER HERE 

Registration deadline: 3 November 2026, at 23:59 CET.

The Zoom link will be shared with registered participants by email ahead of the conference.

 

The conference will be livestream on ERIAC’s Facebook page. Join the livestream HERE on 5 November, from 10:00 AM.

 

Agenda – Safeguarding Romani Language, 7th International Conference

 

10.00 – 10.30 | Welcome address

 

Pap Ndiaye, Ambassador, Permanent Representative of France to the Council of Europe  

Hallvard Gorseth, Director of Equal Rights and Dignity, Council of Europe  

Georgios Stamatis, PACE General Rapporteur on Roma and Travellers, Council of Europe 

Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka, Executive Director, European Roma Institute for Arts and Culture 

 

10:30 – 12:00 | Panel 1: ROMANI LANGUAGE PRESERVATION IN EUROPE: PROGRESS, HARMONISATION AND FUTURE PRIORITIES
(Panel in Romani with English translation) 

 

The panel will reflect on current challenges and opportunities in Romani language education, development and harmonisation, and identify shared priorities for strengthening its use, transmission and recognition across Europe. On the one hand, the panel will take stock of new developments in the field, including presenting the work of the members states and the Council of Europe, as well as present outcomes of the ERIAC Romani Language Initiative, including the ERIACNET4EU Position Paper, which addresses the recognition, protection, development and revitalisation of the Romani language as an essential expression of Roma identity, cultural continuity and Europe’s linguistic diversity.

 

Prof. Huseyin S. Kyuchuk, Professor of Linguistics and Intercultural education at the University of Silesia, Katowice, Poland (online) 

Mihaela Zătreanu, Executive Director ERIAC Romania, Leader of ERIAC’s Romani Language Initiative, PhD Researcher in Sociology, Romanian Academy – School of Advanced Studies (SCOSAAR) 

Dr. Ion Duminica, Executive Director of the Roma Civil Society Organization „Association Porojan” and President of Roma Operational Working Group under the Ministry and the Agency for Interethnic Relations, Republic of Moldova 

Elise Cornu, Head of National Minorities and Minority Languages Division, Executive Secretary of the Committee of Experts of the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages 

 
Moderator: Janush Panchenko, Romani language section coordinator at ERIAC 

Moderated discussion followed by Q&A 

 

13.00 – 14.30 | Panel 2: FROM PRESERVATION TO INNOVATION: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND THE ROMANI LANGUAGE

(Panel in English with Romani translation)

 

The panel will explore how Artificial Intelligence and emerging digital technologies can support the preservation, documentation and accessibility of the Romani language. Building on ERIAC’s collaboration with Microsoft, discussions will examine the opportunities and challenges of developing digital language resources, AI-assisted translation, speech technologies and other innovative tools that can strengthen the long-term vitality of the Romani language while ensuring community ownership and ethical development.

 

Dr. Wassim Hamidouche, Principal Research Scientist at Microsoft’s AI for Good Lab (online) 

Norbert Kuki, Visual artist and Roma hip-hop producer  

Menno Ettema, Head of Hate Speech and Hate Crime Unit and AI Coordinator, Council of Europe  

Dr. Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka, Executive Director, ERIAC  

 

Moderator: Oana Taba, Programme Manager, Roma and Travellers Division, Council of Europe 

Moderated discussion followed by Q&A 

 

14.30 – 14.45 | Conclusions and closing remarks

 

Eleni Tsetsekou, Head of Division, Roma and Travellers Division, Council of Europe

 

15.00 – 16.30 | ROMANI LITERARY EVENT AT THE TREE OF THE ROMANI LANGUAGE

 

The afternoon programme will feature a special public literary event centred around The Tree of the Romani Language, an installation by French Romani artist Marina Rosselle. Bringing together Romani writers, poets and literary practitioners from across Europe, the event will feature readings of poetry, prose and literary excerpts in different dialects of Romani and other languages, transforming the installation into a symbolic meeting place for contemporary Romani literature. The gathering will also mark one of the first public literary presentations of Romani PEN officially part of PEN International, highlighting the role of literature in preserving and renewing the Romani language, promoting freedom of expression and strengthening cultural dialogue across Europe.

 

Programme 

  • Presentation of The Tree of the Romani Language by Marina Rosselle 
  • Introduction to Romani PEN by Delia Grigore 
  • Public readings by Dzemiliana Abdulova, Delia Grigore, Damian Le Bas, Luminița Mihai-Cioabă, Nedjo Osman, Santino Spinelli 

16.30 – 17.00 Informal exchange and networking event

 

 

7-to Maškarthemutni Konferencia – „O Arakhipe le Romane Čhibjako”

 

I romani čhib ačhjol jekh andar e maj importanto fundamenturja vaš le romengi identiteta, kulturako barvalipe thaj o sentimento ke e roma si kotor jekhe komunitetako. Sar e zumavimata vaš o arakhipe thaj o barjaripe le čhibjako keren pes maj but, sikaven pes neve šajimata te zurjaras lako sikavipe katar jekh generacia avrjate, lako aresipe savorenge thaj lako sako divesesko labjaripe vaš o khetanutno bučaripe, inovacia thaj e digitalno tehnologie.

 

Le Evropako Romano Instituto vaš Arte thaj Kultura (ERIAC), ando partneriteto le Diviziasa vaš e Roma thaj e Phirutne katar o Konsilo le Evropako, prezentisarel barikanes i 7-to Maškarthemutni Konferencia – „O Arakhipe le Romane Čhibjako”, savi ka ovel ando 5-to Novembro 2026, ande jekh hibrido formato, online thaj po than, ko Konsilo le Evropako ando Strasburgo.

 

Kado evento si jekh importantno kotor andar le ERIAC-eski Iniciativa vaš i Romani Čhib, savi astardjas ando berš 2020, ando Maškarthemutno Programo vaš Kulturako Promovisaripen, financisardo katar o Germanikano Federalo Ofiso vaš Avrutne Butja. Katar lako anglutno dives, i Iniciativa andjas khetane lingvisturen, sikavnen, ramosarnen, politikane manušen thaj kulturake bučarnen te zurjarel o arakhipe, o promovisaripen thaj barjaripe le romane čhibjako, thaj, ande jekh vaxt, te barjarel pes o dialogo vaš i harmonizacia le romane čhibjaki ande verver thema.

 

Le Evropako Konsilo, savo kerda buti but berša ande kadava umal, ingerel pesko angažamènto maj dur te ažutil o harmonizisaripen, o arakhipe thaj o sikavipe le romane čhibako, sar jekh andar leske specifikane operacionalne objektivurja andi Strategia vaš le Romengi thaj le Phirutnengi Inkluzia (2026–2031). I Evropaki Karta vaš e Regionalne vaj Minoritetnge Čhibja, jekh andar e instrumenturja le Evropake Konsiloske, prindžarel o vašnipe le čhibjengo save naj phangle jekhe themesa, dindos duma klaro pal i romani čhib sar jekh importantno ekzemplo ando Eksplikativno Raporto le Kartako. O Komiteto le Eksperturengo le Kartako arakhljas varesave importantne pharimata thaj dinjas rekomendacie vaš o labaripe thaj o promovisaripen le romane čhibjako.

 

Kadale beršeski konferencia reprezentisarel jekh nevi etapa andi Iniciativa, anindoj khetanes eksperturjen, institucionalo partenerurjen, liderurjen andar o umal e tehnologiako thaj membrurjen andar i romani literarno komuniteta te vakeren pal o progreso savo sas kerdino thaj palal e šajimata save ačhjon/ sikaven pes anglal amende.

 

E diskusie ka dikhen e butja save keren pes akanak vaš o arakhipe le čhibjako, lako dokumentisaripen thaj o barjaripe le politikengo ande kadava umal thaj ka eksplorisaren sar e neve digitalno tehnologie thaj i Artificialno Inteligencia šaj te ažutinen ko arakhipe thaj ko buhljaripe e labjaripasko e romane čhibako vaš e generacie kaj aven. Zurjarindoj I khetani buti maškar e publikane institucie, e universiteturja, e partnerurja andar o tehnologikano umal thaj e romane kulturake bučarne, i konferencia kamel te del vast maj dur o barjaripe le romane čhibjako, sar jekh dživdi evropaki čhib, savi barjol, paruvdjol thaj te avel akcesibilo savorenge. 

 

AGENDA 

 

10:00 – 10:30 | Mištoavimaskere vakerimata  

  • Pap Ndiaye, Ambasadoro, Franciako Permanentno Reprezentantanto ande Europako Konsilo  
  • Hallvard Gorseth, Generalno Direktorato vaš Egalno Hakaja thaj Digniteto, Europako Konsilo  
  • Georgios Stamatis, PACE Generalno Raportori vaš Roma thaj Phirutne, Evropako Konsilo 
  • Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka, Egzekutivno Direktorka, Evropako Romano Instituto vaš Arte thaj Kultura  

10:30 – 12:00 | Panelo 1: ROMANE ČHIBJAKO ARAKHIPE ANDI EUROPA: PROGRESO, HARMONIZACIA THAJ AVUTNE PRIORITETURJA  

(Panelo andi romani čhib, tradukciasa andi anglikani thaj francikani čhib) 

 

Obijektivo:  

Ande kado panelo ka aven khetane eksperturja andar i čhib thaj reprezentanturja le institucienge, save ka vakeren palal e akanutne pharimata thaj šajimata ando sikljovipe, barjaripe thaj harmonizacia le romane čhibaki, thaj ka arakhen khetane prioriteturja te zurjaren lako labjaripe, nakhavipe katar jekh generacia avrjate thaj prinžaripen pe sasti Evropa. Pe jekh rig, o panelo ka dikhel so kerdilo nevo ande kado domeno, ka prezentisarel e butja save kerde e thema thaj o Konsilo le Evropako, thaj vi e rezultaturja le ERIAC-eske Romane Čhibjaki Inciativa, maškar kadala vi i ERIACNET4EU Politikano Lil, savo vakerel palal o prinžaripen, arakhipe, barjaripe thaj nevo dživdipe le romane čhibjako, sar jekh esencialo kotor le romane identitetako, le kulturako kontinuiteto thaj le čhibjengo diversiteto andi Evropa. 

  • Prof. Huseyin S. Kyuchuk, Profesoro pala Lingvistika thaj Interkulturalno Edukacia ko Univerziteto Silesia, Katowice, Polska (online) 
  • Mihaela Zătreanu, Egzekutivno Direktorka ando ERIAC Rumunia, Liderka katar le Romane Chhibjaki Iniciativa (RLI), PhD Rodutni andi Sociologia, Rumunikani Akademia – Shkola Vash Uche Studie (SCOSAAR) 
  • Dr. Ion Duminica, Ekzekutivno Direktoro katar i Organizacia Romani Civilo Societeta „Asociacia Porojan” thaj Prezidento katar o Romani Operacionalo Butjaki Grupa telal o Ministero thaj i Agencia vaš Maškaretnikane Relacie, Republika Moldova 
  • Elise Cornu, Šerutni katar i Divizia vaš e Nacionalno Minoriteturja thaj Minoritetenge Čhibja, Egzekutivno Sekretarka katar le Ekspertongo Komiteto le Europune Kartako vaš Regionalno thaj Minoritetenge Čhibja  

Moderatoro: Janush Panchenko, Koordinatoro katar i Sekcia le Romane Čhibjaki ando ERIAC  

Moderisardi diskusia thaj pučimata thaj palpale phenimata 

 

13.00 – 14.30 | Panelo 2: KATAR I PREZERVACIA KI INOVACIA: ARTIFICIALNO INTELIGENCIA THAJ I ROMANI ČHIB  

(Panelo andi anglikani čhib, tradukciasa romanes thaj francikanes) 

 

Obijektivo: 

Bazisardo po nevo parteneriato maškar o ERIAC thaj o Microsoft, o panelo ka dikhel sar i AI-asistirimi translacia, vakerimaskere tehnologie thaj digitalno arhive šaj te zurarkeren e romane čhibja thaj te ovel buteder buhljardini. Pe jekh vrama ka dikhen pes vi e riskurja katar e algoritmikani diskriminacia, AI-bazirimo profiliribe thaj zuraripa kotar e anti-Romane stereotipurja, leindoj andi godi sar, i komuniteta, e Romengi participacia thaj e etikane mehanizmurja vaš arakhipe/protektiribe, šaj te sigurine, e inovacie te provirinen thaj protektuin i inkluzia.   

  • Dr. Wassim Hamidouche, Sherutno Sajentisto Rodutno ko Microsoft  AI for Good Lab (online) 
  • Norbert Kuki, vizualno artisto thaj Romano hip-hop prodkatoro  
  • Menno Ettema, Šerutno andi Uniteta pal le Xoljako Vakeripe thaj Xoljaki Krima thaj  AI Koordinatoro, Evropako Konsilo 
  • Anna Mirga-Kruszelnicka, Egzekutivno Direktorka, Evropako Romano Instituto vaš Arte thaj Kultura (ERIAC) 

Moderatorka: Oana Taba, Programoski Menadzerk, i Divizia le Romeni thaj le Phirutnengi, Evropako Konsilo  

Moderisardi diskusia thaj pučimata thaj palpale phenimata

 

14.30-14:45 | Konkluzie thaj phandavimaskere vorbi  

  • Eleni Tsetsekou, Diviziakiri Šerutni, Romengi thaj Phirutnengi Divizia, Evropako Konsilo  

15.00 – 16.30 | ROMANO LITERANO IVENTO ,,KO RUKH LE ROMANE ČHIBJAKO,,  

 

Obijektivo: 

Ando programo palal o mizmeri ka ovel vi jekh specialno publikano literarno kidipe trujal o Rukh le Romane Čhibjako, jekh instalacia kerdi kotar i romani artistka andar i Franca, Marina Rosselle. Anindoj khetanes le romane ramosarnen, poeturjen thaj avere manušen save keren buti andi literatura andar sasti Evropa, ando kidipe ka ginaven pes poezie, proza thaj literarno fragmenturja ande vaver romane dialekturja thaj aver čhibja, paruvindos i instalacia ande jekh simbolikano kidimasko than vaš i akanutni romani literatura. Kado kidipe ka ovel vi jekh andar e anglune publikane literarno prezentacie katar i Romani PEN, savi si akanak oficialno kotor andar o PEN International, sikavindoj i rola le literaturaki vaš o arakhipe thaj o nevo barjaripe le romane čhibako, o promovisaripe le slobodo vakerimasko thaj o zurjaripe le kulturalo dialogosko andi sasti Evropa.

 

Programo 

  • Prezentacia le  Romane Čhibjake Rukheski katar i Marina Rosselle 
  • Introdukcia pal o Romani PEN katar i Delia Grigore 
  • Publikano ginavipe katar i Dzemiliana Abdulova, Delia Grigore, Damian Le Bas, Luminița Mihai-Cioabă, Nedjo Osman, Santino Spinelli 

16:30–17:00 | Biformalo paruvimasko thaj vakerimasko ivento