- who believe democracy is a crucial element for the creation of an effective. political representation in Europe and around the the world.

When will this happen? Nin made a pitch through a personal presentation at the 10th World Romani  Congress, organized by the IRU in Skopje earlier this year. As a result the D.T. programme was as adopted as a major plank in the programme of the IRU, headed by president Zoran Dimov and his newly elected team.

Nin says the system is freely available to all groups and organizations, with the expectation that in  future everyone so wishing will be able to network and  participate. In a word democracy is for everyone.

Among the first to use electronic voting is the Gypsy Council (Romano Ekipe) in the UK which this year celebrates its 50th Jubilee. GC members have taken part in a "test-run" of the system and will be using it in elections during 2017.

Depending on the acceptance of this concept, it is hoped that by the time of the scheduled 11th World Romani Congress in 2020 a voter base of between 50,000 and 100,00 will have been set-up, with due security.

In agreeing to chair the D.T. Commission my belief has been that together it will be possible to bring a fresh legitimacy to our collective representation. In future an elected IRU could have a voter mandate from people around the globe.

This must strengthen the fight against anti-Gypsy racism and violence. There will be a new capacity to co-ordinate and organize mass mobilizations when such is necessary.

At a yet more fundamental level, the existence through IT technologies of a

recognizable, popular mandate will raise in a powerful manner questions which which had long been up to now largely out of view. There will be raised a collective voice calling, irresistible, for recognition of the Roma Nation - as defined at the start of this century by the 5th. Congress in Prague.

Respect and acknowledgment of a people's collective ownership of an inalienable sovereignty will give us the true path towards integration as equals; whether within a state or federal political framework, such as the European Union or a re-modelled United Nations.