UVOD 
Odnos do manjšin vseh vrst, stopnja tolerantnosti do drugačnosti, je eno izmed 
temeljnih kazalcev demokratičnosti in humanosti večine. Država Slovenija se v 
veliki meri upravičeno ponaša s pravno urejenim in tudi v vsakdanjemu življenju 
potrjenem tolerantnem odnosu do avtohtone italijanske in madžarske narodne 
manjšine. Seveda tudi na tem področju ne smemo pristati na neprocesno gledanje 
in statičnost stanja. Vse bolj pa postaja jasno, da bo potrebno zelo tenkočutno in 
celovito urediti bodoči status priseljenih prebivalcev. Civilizacijsko tragična bi bila 
napaka, če bi zaradi skrhanih medsebojnih odnosov med jugoslovanskimi narodi 
sprejeli tako obliko zaščite priseljenih, ki bi bila pod ravnijo mednarodnih standar- 
dov človekovih pravic. 
Podobno kot v drugih državah, pa se tudi v Sloveniji kaže praktično nepriznan 
in celo pravno neurejen položaj 6000-7000 Romov, ki živijo pri nas. Nič kaj 
spodbudno ni dejstvo, da so se Romi kot etnična skupnost lahko organizirali na 
planetarni, univerzalni ravni. Mednarodna skupnost je torej "velikodušna" in 
sprejema ter priznava Rome kot svojstveno etnično skupino. Države, v katerih Romi 
dejansko živijo, pa v zakonodaji in obravnavi Romov tega ne storijo. Šele z ustavnim 
amandmajem l. 1989 smo sprejeli odločbo, da se položaj Romov končno uredi z 
zakonom. Tako je dana podlaga, da odpravimo pravno diskriminacijo in tudi v 
državnem okvirju zakonsko uredimo posebne oblike danes ekonomsko, socialno in 
kulturno diskriminiranega položaja Romov, kljub nekaterimi hvale vrednimi in 
nespornim prizadevanjem. 
V novi slovenski ustavi je potrebno opredeliti Rome kot avtohtono etnično 
skupnost ter v zakonodaji postaviti temelje za uresničitev njihovih posebnih 
kolektivnih pravic do lastnega jezika, kulture in drugih etničnih posebnosti. 
Reševanje romskega vprašanja torej ne bo več možno prepustiti zgolj finančnim 
možnostim in pripravljenosti posameznih občin ali krajevnih skupnosti v katerih 
živijo Romi. Seveda pa bo potrebno tudi aktivnejše sodelovanje samih Romov, zlasti 
na področju vzgoje in izobraževanja, zaposlitve in urejanje bivalnih pogojev. 
Samoorganiziranost je osnova za izboljšanje lastnih razmer ter ohranitev lastne 
kulturne identitete. Romom je potrebno do novih volitev zagotoviti pravico do 
neposredne zastopanosti v predstavniških telesih oblasti. 
Slovenci kot večinski narod bomo torej v odnosu do Romov morali opustiti 
kakršne koli asimilacijske pritiske. Pogosto namreč slišimo tako razmišljanje:

8 
"Poglej, kako v redu je Cigan N.N. Celo s svojimi otroki ne govori drugače kot 
slovensko!" Za slovensko družbo bi bilo tragično, da bi torej postala asimilacija 
in" poslovenitev" Romov njihova edina uspešna pot iz revščine. Etnični pluralizem 
tudi do Romov mora torej dobiti v Sloveniji stalno domovinsko pravico. To seveda 
pomeni dvoplastni proces, ki vključuje ne le tolerantnost večine, temveč tudi 
pripravljenost Romov, da sprejmejo določene elemente dominantne kulture in 
hkrati ne opuščajo svojo kulturo, katere obstoj mora dopustiti in podpirati večinski 
narod. 
Ljubljana, 28.5.1991 dr. Dušan Plut 
PREFACE 
Attitude towards all kinds of minorities together with toleration of diversity, is 
one of the primary indicators of the democratic and humane character of majority. 
The state of Slovenia has every reason to pride itself upon the tolerant attitude 
towards the autochtonous Italian and Hungarian ethnic minorities, which is 
reflected in their legal status as well as in everyday life. However, we must not 
consent to the static condition in the field of minority rights. The need of a 
considerate and integral regulation of the future status of immigrants, is becoming 
increasingly evident. It would be uncivilized and a tragic mistake, if, on the account 
of strained relations between the Yugoslav nations, the adopted form of protection 
of minorities did not correspond to the international standards of. human rights. 
Like in many other countries, the status of 6000 - 7000 Roma (Gypsies) living in 
Slovenia, lacks official recognition and even legal regulation. The fact that Roma 
(Gypsies) were able to organize themselves on the planetary and universal level, is 
not very promising as such. Although the international community isso “generous” 
as to treat and recognize Roma (Gypsies) as a specific ethnic group, the countries in 
which Roma (Gypsies) actually live, have been all but willing to provide for the 
regulation of their status so far. It was the constitutional amendment of the year 
1989, that passed the provision, claiming legal regulation of the status of Roma 
(Gypsies). The provision secured the basis for abolition of legal discrimination and 
for legal regulation on the state level of the economic, social and cultural status of 
the Roma (Gypsies), who are, even nowadays, treated in discriminatory ways, 
despite some praiseworthy efforts for improvement of their living conditions. 
It is necessary to define Roma (Gypsies) as an autochtonous ethnic community 
in the new Slovene constitution. Moreover, the possibilities for exercising of their 
special collective rights of their own language, culture and other ethnic particular- 
ities, should be provided by the legislation. Therefore, in future, the Roma (Gypsies)

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of Slovenia will not have to depend solely on financial capacities and readiness of 
the communes and local communities in which they live. The entire process will, 
of course, demand their active participation, especially in the field of education, 
employment and housing. Self-organization on the part of the Roma (Gypsies) is the 
foundation for improvement of their living conditions and for preservation of their 
cultural identity. Until the new elections, the Roma (Gypsies) should be ensured the 
tight of direct representation in representational bodies of the state authority. 
Slovenes, as the majority population in this country, will have to give up 
assimilative pressures in relation to Roma (Gypsies). Such pressures are clearly 
evident in the following way of thinking, which is very common in Slovenia: “N.N. 
is a really good fellow, because he speaks no other language than Slovene to his 
children.” The situation would indeed be tragic, if Roma (Gypsies) had to submit to 
assimilation and slovenization in order to evade poverty. Ethnic pluralism should 
finally gain the right of domicile in Slovenia as well. Concerning Roma (Gypsies), 
this means a twofold process, which demands tolerance on the part of majority on 
one side, and willingness of the Roma (Gypsies), on the other side, to adopt certain 
elements of the dominant culture without giving up their own. The Romany culture 
should be given full support and tolerance by the majority. 
Ljubljana, May 28, 1991 dr.Dušan Plut