Testimony Return to Testimony List Background There has been a significant growth, in the last decade, of publications concerning the Roma. However, most of this material is not written by Roma. The Roma are a group who, in general, have not been widely written about. Nor have the Roma really written much about themselves. There is, as a result, a lack of a 'direct' voice, that is the Roma, themselves, recounting their experience of life, their thoughts, their concerns and their aspirations. Romani World is working to fill in this widening gap by preparing short articles which contain translated transcriptions of observations and recounted events in the lives of Roma as presented by Roma. These personal observations and stories are intended to provide an insight into the experience and thoughts of Roma. The sources of the content of these pieces are Roma who have volunteered to recount something about their life. The title of this series of short publications is 'Testimony', a testimony being a short oral or written statement. Indeed, much of what will appear in this section was given orally by Roma. The process of translation and checking, with the originator, the full sense of what was said, takes considerable time before any given piece is ready for publication. There is also a troubling matter that, in 2003, there still remains a fear on the part of some that by recounting the truth they might be punished somehow. This is an indication of the real need to give Roma a voice in an environment characterised by freedom of expression. Unfortunately this is something which, through most of Europe, does not exist for these particular European citizens; a case of unadulterated discrimination. We hope that this series will provide glimpses and insights into a way of thinking, an outlook, indeed a philosophy of life. In what might appear a mundane topic, those of us who have helped prepare this material, have been constantly surprised at the focus of the Roma, no matter how trying their conditions, on sustaining and protecting their immediate and extended families, maintaining clear family values, and, in spite of the circumstances, often extending their love of family into a respectful consideration for others and of nature. But then, we should not say any more because after all you can read directly what some Roma have said, read on and we wish you a pleasant journey in what we feel is a voyage of discovery.