Roma Communities

Forced to flee fighting, Lyudmyla was assured the authorities would rehouse her in a town in western Ukraine. But when she arrived, they took one look at her and turned her away.

Over the past 15 years, the sale of babies in Bulgaria's poor Roma communities has become almost commonplace. With help from traffickers, destitute parents are selling their newborns in neighbouring Greece, where adoption laws are lax.

Pope Francis called for a fresh start on Monday for Roma and Sinti communities, telling traveller families from around the world they could break free of prejudice by not falling into crime.

Forced to flee fighting, Lyudmyla was assured the authorities would rehouse her in a town in western Ukraine. But when she arrived, they took one look at her and turned her away.

Over the past 15 years, the sale of babies in Bulgaria's poor Roma communities has become almost commonplace. With help from traffickers, destitute parents are selling their newborns in neighbouring Greece, where adoption laws are lax.

Pope Francis called for a fresh start on Monday for Roma and Sinti communities, telling traveller families from around the world they could break free of prejudice by not falling into crime.