Fundación Secretariado Gitano

April 8th, International Roma Day 2021 [editar]

• Acción Institucional
• Communication
• National level

Today April 8th we welcome another International Roma Day to remember the history and pay tribute to the Roma victims of persecutions throughout the centuries. A celebration marked this year by the 50th anniversary of the First World Romani Congress held in London, where the symbols of the Roma people were adopted: the blue and green flag with a red wheel and the hymn Gelem, Gelem.

This 50th anniversary celebration comes after more than a year of pandemic, in which Roma families, like so many others, have suffered the loss of loved ones, but have also seen a worsening of social and economic conditions. In this despite progress, Roma continue to be behind and at a great distance from the rest of society in the enjoyment of fundamental rights. Among others, decent employment, quality education, decent housing or the right to non-discrimination. The institutional recognition of the Roma People, but also the guarantee of equal opportunities and treatment for Roma must be an effective commitment of the public administration in the celebration of this 50th anniversary on April 8th.

This International Roma Day from the Fundación Secretariado Gitano we want to pay a heartfelt tribute to older Roma people, a fundamental pillar of families, men and women of respect, who have known how to transmit to different generations the values ​​and pride of Roma identity. That is why the image of this year's commemorative poster wants to be a tribute to that generation with the motto: The essence of us. This year, more than ever, for our elderly people. This poster includes a photograph of Tío Palé and his great-granddaughter, taken by photographer Ana Palma.

Institutional Events

Due to the pandemic, the usual event organised by the State Council of the Roma People in Madrid will not organise the River Ceremony, but rather an institutional event broadcasted by streaming at the headquarters of the Spanish Ministry of Social Rights . For its part, the Awards of  the Roma Culture Institute will take place on the afternoon of April 8 at the National Auditorium and will be broadcast online.For its part, the Fundación Secretariado Gitano celebrates an act at 10:30 am at its headquarters with the reading of its Institutional Statement, the memory of the ancestors and the recognition of the Roma victims who suffered persecution. The event will be in the presence of workers of the entity and broadcast by streaming on its Facebook channel

At the European level, the Fundación Secretariado Gitano will participate in an event of the European Parliament through the video statements of Belén Sánchez-Rubio and Rafael Saavedra from International Department l.We are collecting all the information on announcements, events and news in our DOSSIER 8 APRIL 2021 (spanish version only)

Photo: Ana Palma