Fundación Secretariado Gitano calls for a comprehensive law to ensure the recognition, equality and advancement of the Roma in Spain [editar]

Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) joins in the celebration of 8 April, International Roma Day, a day to express pride in being Roma and to demand the right to recognition and equality.

 

The celebration on 8 April recalls the Roma history and pays tribute to the Roma victims of various persecutions throughout the centuries. It commemorates the 1st World Roma Congress, held in London on 8 April 1971, at which the flag (blue and green, with a red wheel) and the anthem ‘Gelem, Gelem’ were adopted as their symbols.

Sara Giménez, FSG’s Director General, emphasises that it is impossible to understand Spanish identity without acknowledging the mark left by the Roma on its historical development. “However,” says Giménez, “despite some progress and a consolidated presence, significant challenges remain. Ignorance regarding the diversity, history and identity of the Roma people continues to fuel attitudes of rejection and discrimination. Structural inequalities continue to affect key rights such as education, employment and housing, demonstrating that there is still a long way to go towards real and effective equality.”

For the FSG’s Director General, “it is time to commit, as a society and as a country, to the full equality of the Roma people. Equality based on the recognition of diversity and the value of a distinct cultural identity, one that is nonetheless part of our country’s shared history and culture”.

For a comprehensive law on the recognition, equality and promotion of the Roma in Spain

Although significant progress has been made in recent years in the institutional and social recognition of the Roma, it is necessary to consolidate these gains through a firm and sustained commitment. For this reason, at Fundación Secretariado Gitano we are promoting the proposal for a Comprehensive Law that guarantees the recognition, equal treatment and advancement of the Roma, addressing inequalities in a holistic manner and reinforcing the full exercise of rights by Roma people.

On 8 April 2026, we do not want this to be merely about remembering the past or celebrating cultural recognition, but about looking to the future with responsibility and ambition. A comprehensive law can be a decisive tool for moving towards a more equitable and cohesive society.

“The policy framework we currently have is insufficient,” according to the director of the FSG, “we need a specific legislative framework that provides guarantees, comprehensiveness and sustainability to the policies and measures necessary for the real and effective equality of the Roma. There are examples of specific laws for other groups that have achieved a legal framework of protection addressing factors of inequality or discrimination. In the case of the Roma people, the combination of factors leading to rights violations is manifold,” she concludes.

Identity, culture, resilience

Fundación Secretariado Gitano is using this date to launch social awareness campaigns and highlight the value of Roma culture. This year we have a commemorative poster for 8 April under the slogan: “For a law that guarantees the rights of the Roma people”. The image is based on two key elements: the future of the Roma people and identity. Through the image of a girl proudly carrying a Roma flag, we aim to reflect the progress of a resilient people who move forward despite the barriers. An image that ties in with our call to promote a comprehensive law guaranteeing the recognition, equality and advancement of the Roma people.

To mark 8 April, Fundación Secretariado Gitano is also issuing a statement drafted by the Roma Participation Group, whose slogan this year is: “It is a time for recognition, equality and advancement”.

This celebration takes place in numerous towns and cities across the country, with institutional support, official ceremonies, the illumination of monuments and flag-raising ceremonies, as well as the traditional River Ceremony to remember our ancestors.

Highlights

This celebration of Roma Day takes place in several towns and cities across the country, featuring institutional support, official ceremonies, the illumination of monuments and flag-raising ceremonies, as well as the traditional River Ceremony to commemorate our ancestors.

Of particular note is the River Ceremony held at a national level in Madrid Río, attended by, amongst others, the Minister for Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, Pablo Bustinduy, and the Secretary of State for Social Rights and President of the State Council for the Roma People, María Rosa Martínez. Also in attendance at this event were the Minister for Equality, Ana Redondo, and representatives of the Romani community organisations, including the Director General of the FSG, Sara Giménez. The River Ceremony consists of a floral tribute to Romani ancestors, and representatives of Romani organisations read out a commemorative message.

On the afternoon of 8 April, the awards ceremony for the Institute of Romani Culture Awards was also held, at which its new director, Ismael Cortés, spoke.

At regional and local level, once again this year, a wide range of activities have been organised by regional parliaments and governments, as well as by provincial councils and local councils across the country.

At the international level, it is worth highlighting the statement by Executive Vice-President Mînzatu and Commissioners Lahbib and Kos on the occasion of International Roma Day, as well as the statement by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Alain Berset, on the occasion of International Roma Day. Furthermore, from 20 to 23 April, Roma Week will be held once again in Brussels, organised by the European Commission and other institutions. And from 8 to 10 April, Roma Youth Together 2026 will take place in Strasbourg, organised by the Council of Europe, with the participation of several young Roma from the FSG.

Once again this year, there has been a wealth of media coverage and interviews marking 8 April, as well as activity across various social media platforms. A summary of the key highlights is included in our 8 April 2026 Dossier. Among the most notable are the report on RTVE’s *Aquí hay trabajo* and Sara Giménez’s opinion piece in *ElDiario.es*; and on social media, the support for the celebrations from organisations such as LaLiga, the SEPE, the President of Andalusia Moreno Bonilla, the National Library, the Ministry of Equality, as well as numerous local councils and other institutions; or Minister Bustinduy’s speech at the national River Ceremony. Also worth noting is the presentation of the Catalan Government’s Strategy for the Roma People 2026–2036 and the Regional Strategy for Equality, Inclusion and Participation of the Roma People 2026–2030 in Castile-La Mancha.

At the Fundación Secretariado Gitano, we have used the hashtags: #8deAbril #DíaPuebloGitano #LeyIntegralPuebloGitano