On August 2, 2024, the UK Presidency of the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) commemorated Roma Genocide Remembrance Day with an event in Newcastle, marking the

80th anniversary of the genocide of the Roma. The event was held in collaboration with representatives of the Roma community and featured significant contributions from both local and national figures.

Ruth-Anne Lenga, Associate Professor and Programme Director at University College London’s Centre for Holocaust Education, attended as the Deputy Head of the UK Delegation to the IHRA, representing the UK Special Envoy for Post-Holocaust Issues, Lord Pickles.

The commemoration took place at the Newcastle Civic Centre Memorial Garden and was organized by former Newcastle Councillor Nicu Ion. Attendees were invited to lay wreaths and flowers at the site where a permanent memorial to the victims of the Roma genocide is planned for construction next year. Once completed, this will be the first and only permanent memorial in the UK dedicated to the memory of the Roma who suffered and perished during the Nazi era.

The event saw participation from a wide array of attendees, including representatives from Roma civic organizations, local council members, the Sheriff and Deputy Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Councillor Henry Gallagher, as well as Roma community leaders, poets, singers, and activists from Newcastle and beyond.

Nicu Ion, who was Newcastle’s first elected Roma councillor and a former teacher, expressed the significance of the memorial: "Today we stand at the future site of the first memorial to be built in the UK. There are very few in Europe. This will be a place to remember and share the story of our tragic history—hopefully to be unveiled in January 2025."

Ruth-Anne Lenga highlighted the importance of the event, stating, "Today marks a triumph following years of struggle for recognition of this history. We are witnessing a watershed moment as we unveil the site where the first permanent memorial to the victims of the Roma genocide will stand in this country. The UK Presidency of IHRA joins the community in mourning those who were murdered in the genocide and stands with you in friendship and solidarity."

The IHRA has long championed the inclusion of the Roma genocide in educational programs. Later this year, the IHRA will publish new recommendations for teaching about the persecution and genocide of the Roma during the Nazi era. These guidelines will provide advice to policymakers and educators on the importance of teaching this history and how best to approach it.

Miško Stanišić, Director of Terraforming, a Serbian organization dedicated to developing educational methodologies about the Holocaust, and a key contributor to the IHRA's recommendations, emphasized the pride of Newcastle for being one of the few cities in Europe to establish a permanent memorial to this tragic event. He also underscored the vital connection between remembrance and education.

The commemoration concluded with the raising of the Roma flag and the singing of the Roma anthem, followed by speeches from second- and third-generation survivors and other prominent figures within the Roma community.