The main goal of this study is to demonstrate the urgent need for a specific legislation to address the rights of the Romani People in Brazil, not only as a social inclusion guarantee but also as a form of historical repair. Therefore this work will analyze the little existent legal material on the matter and examine the Romani Protection Bill, proposed in 2011 and still under debate.
This text is divided in three chapters in which are discussed social rights and their applicability through public policies and the public policies available to the Romani population, the history of their presence in the country and their current demands. The first Romani people to get to Brazil were forced here by law in the 16th century. Exiled from Portugal and Spain, they remained in a land that branded them as unwanted. The legal system determined it was a crime to be a Romani. The situation did not change through the centuries and it was only in the last part of the 20th century that Brazilian legislation began to pay attention to the State’s duty towards them. An ethnic minority of almost one million inhabitants, the Romani are slowly coming out of the social invisibility they were thrown in by the hand of the State. In this research it is shown what has been done to change the reality of this social group in the country and what they would like to see done.
Contents
Introduction
1. Exile and immigration: how the Romani people came to Brazil
1.1. Antigypsyism Policies in Portugal and the exile of the Calon
1.2. A new immigration wave and more clashes with the State interest
2. Public Policies and how the current legislation mentions to the Romani People
2.1. Social Rights and public policies
2.2. Public Policies for the Romani People
3. Do rights apply in real life?
3.1. Testimonies of persecution and a call for rights.
Afterword
Research Goals & Themes
This work examines the historical and contemporary legal status of the Romani people in Brazil, analyzing the transition from systemic colonial exile to the ongoing struggle for recognition and the implementation of social rights under the current constitutional framework.
- Historical analysis of anti-Romani policies and state-imposed nomadism in Brazil.
- Evaluation of the efficacy of current public policies and social programs regarding Romani communities.
- Examination of the "Romani Protection Bill" and debates surrounding its necessity and potential impact.
- Field research involving interviews with Romani individuals to understand their personal experiences with prejudice and state interaction.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Exile and immigration: how the Romani people came to Brazil
Colorful clothes, joyful tents and vigilant eyes to the destiny of others. The way the Romani people relate to the Brazilian history put them in the condition of agent and victim of the impressions which rulers, policemen and whole society created about men who had their lives altered by the amazement they caused. […] From academic debates to informal chats, the Romani are portrait from feelings that swing between the dazzle their traditions exert and the fears bolstered by stigmas and superstition linked to their free lifestyle. [...] Persecuted or absorbed into our social hierarchy, the Romani are more than readers of the future, they can also be considered writers of our past. […] (National Library, 2006)
Ian Hancock, Romani scholar and Professor at the University of Texas, brings in his work On Romani Origins and Identity the theory that the Romani come from India. Hancock uses compared linguistics studies to substantiate his theory. Through the study of the Romani (base language), Hancock also identified the social origins of these people. According to him (2005, p.5), regardless of more traditional researches assume, the Romani people were not musicians or craftsmen from Northern India. On the contrary, they originated from a military class, since words such as soldier, attack, sword and spear, are the same in Indian languages, unlike works like farm, planting, plowing and so on.
Conforming Franz Moonen (2012, p.7), when the Romani immigrated to the West Europe in the 15th century, many where the speculations regarding their origins. The first denomination they received where gypsy in English, egyptier in dutch, gitano in Spanish, amongst others, referring to a supposed Egyptian origin. There were, yet, those who mistook them with the Tartars and the Mongolians from Central Asia and Siberia, says Moonen (2012, p.7). There are no report on how the Romani identified themselves.
Summary of Chapters
Introduction: The author outlines the personal motivation behind the research and provides an overview of the intersectional approach (Law, History, Anthropology) used to analyze the Romani situation in Brazil.
1. Exile and immigration: how the Romani people came to Brazil: This chapter details the historical context of Romani arrival in Brazil, focusing on the state-imposed exile from Portugal and the subsequent structural persecution.
1.1. Antigypsyism Policies in Portugal and the exile of the Calon: A historical examination of the specific legislative efforts in Portugal, such as the Philippine Ordinances, to banish and persecute Romani populations.
1.2. A new immigration wave and more clashes with the State interest: This section covers the arrival of non-Iberian Romani groups in the 19th and 20th centuries and the resulting state tensions during the Vargas era.
2. Public Policies and how the current legislation mentions to the Romani People: An exploration of the current legal status of Romani people in Brazil and their inclusion in existing federal social programs.
2.1. Social Rights and public policies: A theoretical discussion on fundamental social rights as defined by the 1988 Constitution and their practical implementation via state policy.
2.2. Public Policies for the Romani People: This section reviews the Guide of Public Policies for Romani People and other governmental measures aimed at addressing Romani specificities.
3. Do rights apply in real life?: A chapter focused on the practical application of rights, featuring field research and interviews with Romani individuals regarding their actual experiences.
3.1. Testimonies of persecution and a call for rights.: Presents personal testimonies from Romani community members and leaders, highlighting their critiques of governmental bills and the persistence of prejudice.
Afterword: The author contextualizes the Brazilian findings within broader global trends of xenophobia and discrimination against Romani populations.
Keywords
Romani, Brazil, Antigypsyism, Social Rights, Public Policies, Immigration, Nomadism, Discrimination, Ethnicity, Cultural Resistance, Social Invisibility, Romani Protection Bill, Calon, Sinti, Human Rights
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The work focuses on the history, legal status, and social condition of the Romani people in Brazil, tracing their path from colonial exile to their contemporary struggle for recognition and rights.
What are the primary thematic areas explored?
The research explores the intersections of law, history, and anthropology, specifically covering antigypsyism, state-led persecution, public policy implementation, and the lived experiences of Romani families.
What is the main objective or research question?
The primary objective is to evaluate the urgency of specific legislation for the Romani people in Brazil and to understand how current constitutional provisions and public policies impact their daily lives.
Which scientific methods are utilized in this work?
The author employs a mixed-method approach, combining extensive bibliographic research of historical and legal documents with qualitative field research and informal interviews with members of the Romani community.
What is discussed in the main body of the book?
The main body investigates the history of Romani exile to Brazil, the development of governmental policies aimed at "traditional communities," and the personal narratives of Romani individuals regarding police repression and systemic prejudice.
How can the research be characterized in terms of keywords?
The study is characterized by concepts such as social invisibility, cultural resistance, ethnic recognition, and the tension between traditional nomadic lifestyles and state-imposed homogenization.
Does the book specifically discuss the "Romani Protection Bill"?
Yes, the book extensively debates the potential benefits and drawbacks of this bill, with various Romani figures providing conflicting views on whether it serves as a true solution or merely a political maneuver.
How does the author address the issue of identity and census data?
The author highlights the difficulty in mapping the Romani population because they are not recognized as a distinct race in the official Brazilian census, which hinders the creation and targeted application of public policies.
What role does education play in the lives of the interviewed Romani?
Education is described by interviewees as a "weapon" against discrimination; however, they note that systemic prejudice often forces children to drop out of school, leading to high rates of functional illiteracy.
What are the key findings regarding police and authority interactions?
The interviews suggest that even in the modern era, Romani camps often face police repression, including threats, destruction of property, and forceful expulsion, which forces them into a cycle of compulsory nomadism.
- Quote paper
- Doctor Lívia Sudare (Author), 2013, Romani People in Brazil. From Exile to the Search for Social Rights, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/366734
