13 – 14 February, Memorial Rivesaltes Internment Camp
On 13 and 14 February the Memorial of the Rivesaltes Internment camp will host a historic Conference, organized by French Travellers, focused on the WWII internment of “Bohemians, Nomads and Travellers” between 1940-1946.
The first day will focus on ‘truth’. It will explore the context, policies, processes, narratives and actions that contributed to the injustices committed against so-called “Nomads and Travellers” in the twentieth century. The scope of analysis will extend beyond the internment camps stricto sensu to examine other places and processes as well: house arrest, concentration in internment camps, forced labor, family separation, deprivation, violence, executions, disappearances, deportations… while identifying the role of different stakeholders, and the lasting consequences on people’s lives.
The second day will focus on ‘justice’ and ‘dignity’ and present the links between past and present policies “From past to present”. It will explore the mechanisms of exclusion and persecution that persist and their evolution. It will also develop concrete proposals to move towards transitional justice for French Travellers. This will include recommendations for judicial and extra-judicial mechanisms, including truth-seeking, prosecution initiatives, reparations and other measures to address ongoing rights violations and prevent the recurrence of new violations.
