Fundación Secretariado Gitano joins the celebration and asks for solidarity with those who are suffering first-hand the consequences of the war in Ukraine and, especially, with the Ukrainian Roma community, which in many cases is suffering discriminatory treatment.
One more year, the Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) joins the celebration of 8 April, the International Roma Day, to remember the history of this People and pay tribute to the Roma victims of the different persecutions throughout centuries. A celebration that commemorates the 1st World Roma Congress, held in London in 1971, in which its own symbols were adopted: the blue and green flag with a red wheel, and the anthem Gelem, Gelem.
The International Roma Day is the moment to commit ourselves as a society with the full equality of the Roma people. Equality comes from the recognition of diversity and the value of our own cultural identity which is part of our shared history and culture.
Despite the advances, the Roma people continue being behind the rest of society in the enjoyment of fundamental rights such as decent employment, quality education, decent housing or the right not to be discriminated. The institutional recognition of the Roma People, but also the guarantee of equal opportunities and treatment for Roma men and women, must be an effective commitment of the public authorities.
The celebration of the International Roma Day 2022 comes in a terrible context of international conflict with the Russian military invasion of Ukraine, and we cannot ignore what is happening on the borders of the European Union. For this reason, this year we want a 8 April that also be a heartfelt tribute to all the people who are suffering first-hand the consequences of this war, both in Ukraine and in neighboring countries, and especially to the Ukrainian Roma community, that we know that in many cases they are suffering discriminatory treatment.
With the image of this year's commemorative poster, the Fundación Secretariado Gitano wishes to express its solidarity with the Ukrainian people as a whole, paying special attention to the situation experienced by the Roma population, already affected by inequality and discrimination, in departure and reception processes.
This poster includes a photograph taken in Sabadell by the photographer Ana Palma, in which two boys and a girl appear with the Roma and Ukrainian flag, accompanied by the hashtag #StandWithUkraine #StandWithRomapeople
Institutional events
The Fundación Secretariado Gitano celebrates an act at 9:30 a.m. at its headquarters on Madrid, with the reading of its institutional statement, the remembrance of ancestors and the recognition of Roma victims who suffered persecution. The president of the entity, Sara Giménez, along with other representatives of the staff and programme participants, take part in it. At the end of the act, a jallipén is celebrated, a Roma breakfast, as the most festive moment.
The Ministry of Social Rights and the 2030 Agenda, like every year, organizes the River Ceremony in Madrid, as an institutional act on 8 April.
The 8 April Awards Ceremony of the Institute of Roma Culture will take place on 8 April at the Reina Sofia Museum at 7:30 p.m.
More events and activities
In the web dossier 8 April 2022 we are compiling all the actions, communications, information and events that we are developing in our offices (our own events or together with other entities and institutions).
Words by Sara Giménez, president of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano on the commemoration of the International Roma Day.
Fundación Secretariado Gitano joins the celebration and asks for solidarity with those who are suffering first-hand the consequences of the war in Ukraine and, especially, with the Ukrainian Roma community, which in many cases is suffering discriminatory treatment.
