18/10/2023
FSG
This year the report presents 532 cases of discrimination and antigypsyism dealt with by FSG in 2022.
It highlights a greater awareness of Roma people about the cases of discrimination they suffer, the incentive of positive jurisprudence for victims and gender, as one of the most common factors of intersectional discrimination.
Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) presented today in Seville its 19th Annual Report "Discrimination and the Roma Community" with the main theme dedicated to collective anti-Roma persecution, such as the cases that occurred in Íllora (Granada) and Peal de Becerro (Jaén) last year.
The report, which includes 532 cases of discrimination and antigypsyism dealt with by FSG in 2022, includes a detailed account of all of them, with a description of the facts, the intervention and the results obtained.
The opening of the event was attended by Antonio Ismael Huertas, Director General of Social Protection and Preferential Action Neighbourhoods of the Government of Andalusia; Rita Bosaho, Director General of Equal Treatment and Ethnic-Racial Diversity of the Ministry of Equality; Inmaculada Lasala, Deputy Assistant Director of Social Programmes of the Ministry of Social Rights and Agenda 2030; and Sara Giménez, president of Fundación Secretariado Gitano, who recalled that "collective anti-Roma harassment, from events such as those in Peal de Becerro and Íllora, and others that have occurred in the past, shows us the need to continue denouncing cases of anti-Roma discrimination. These are very serious events that have a traumatic impact on the families affected, and in which prevention and the institutional and police response is key, along with the necessary support for the victims, many of whom are minors.”
Isidro Rodríguez, Director General of FSG, and José Luis García Martín, Deputy Mayor of Seville City Council, closed the conference, which was also attended by institutional representatives, political parties, state security forces and the Public Prosecutor's Office, representatives of the State Council of the Roma People, the Andalusian Council of the Roma People, members of NGOs and other agents.
The round table addressed the issue of collective anti-Roma persecution in depth, from a historical and academic perspective, from a police perspective and from the approach of accompanying the victims.
532 recorded cases of discrimination
This year's report presents 532 cases of discrimination and antigypsyism dealt with by FSG in 2022, in which the discriminatory nature of the incidents reported by the victims has been proven. The cases are dealt with within the framework of the Service of Advice and Assistance to Victims of Racial or Ethnic Discrimination and the Calí programme, for the Equality of Roma Women. In addition, the report includes the most recent developments, good practices, case law and strategic litigation in the field of discrimination led by FSG.
The report finds that discrimination mainly affects Roma people between 18 and 35 years of age and women, with 121 of the 222 victims identified being women.
Conclusions of the report
Among the conclusions, the report highlights the increase in the awareness of Roma people about the cases of discrimination they suffer, although there are still barriers that limit the adoption of more active measures for reporting and that have repercussions on access to justice.
It is also concluded that positive rulings in strategic litigation cases serve as an incentive and trigger more active reporting processes. This is why FSG is strengthening its work in this regard, bringing more cases of discrimination and anti-Roma hatred before the courts, and providing solid legal defence and comprehensive support to victims throughout the judicial process. In 2022, it had 29 cases open in court, which are detailed in the report.
Once again this year, the report finds that gender is one of the most common determinants of intersectional discrimination. Roma women face very complex social barriers, which is why they need specialised attention and support, such as that provided by the FSG's Equality Technicians who work within the framework of the Calí programme, for the equality of Roma women. The report includes 38 cases of intersectional discrimination.
Finally, the report highlights that the approval of the Comprehensive Law for Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination in 2022 offers a broader framework of protection against discrimination. However, the FSG regrets that these regulatory advances are not being implemented in a fully effective manner, given that the Independent Authority for Equal Treatment has not yet been created, despite the fact that almost a year has passed since the six-month deadline stipulated by law for its creation.
