Fundación Secretariado Gitano participates as a speaker in an international event on settlements and slums in Europe [editar]
On April 22, 2026, the online event “Beyond Informality: Addressing Roma Settlements in Europe—Challenges, Solutions, and the Way Forward” took place, providing a space for dialogue about the situation of informal Roma settlements in Europe.
The meeting, held virtually within the framework of the United Nations Regional Forum on Sustainable Development (UNECE), brought together civil society organizations, public policy experts, international agencies, and representatives of Roma communities.
The session was organised by the the Global Forum of Communities Discriminated on Work and Descent and aimed to analyse the reality of these settlements, share data and experiences, and explore structural solutions in line with Sustainable Development Goal 11, which focuses on inclusive cities and access to adequate housing. This meeting forms part of a broader process of reviewing progress on the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 11, and helps to place the issue of informal Roma settlements on the international agenda, highlighting the need for structural and coordinated responses.
During the event, it became clear that informal settlements are not merely a housing problem, but reflect situations of structural exclusion and systemic discrimination. The lack of access to decent housing, basic services and legal recognition is linked to persistent inequalities that disproportionately affect the Roma population in various European countries.
In this context, the Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) took part as a speaker and addressed the situation of Roma families living in settlements in Spain. Our presentation focused on the main challenges regarding housing, including the persistence of residential segregation, the violation of fundamental rights and the difficulties in accessing housing resources on an equal footing. We had the opportunity to explain in detail the findings of our Study of the characteristics and circumstances of people living in slum and substandard housing settlements in Spain
The event also featured contributions from other international organisations and experts. Romani Godi (Turkey) analysed the impact of the 2023 earthquake on Romani communities, highlighting how such crises exacerbate pre-existing vulnerabilities, particularly in contexts of precarious housing. The Dosta Association (Spain) addressed the housing crisis in the country and its specific impact on the Roma population, emphasising the role of community mobilisation and grassroots activism.
From a data-driven perspective, Romalitico presented an analytical tool called the ‘Roma Index’, designed to measure housing conditions and facilitate the development of public policies that are more in line with the reality of the settlements.
Among the key findings, emphasis was placed on the need to adopt integrated, long-term and rights-based approaches, as well as on the need to strengthen coordination between public policies, empirical data and community participation. The importance of the advocacy work carried out by civil society organisations was also highlighted, with particular emphasis on the need to combine data and practical experience to drive structural change.
