Fundación Secretariado Gitano presents its proposals in Spain to ‘Advance the Guarantee of Roma Rights and Recognition’ [editar]

Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG), EAPN Spain (European Anti-Poverty Network in Spain) and the Spanish Third Sector Platform organised an event at the Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies entitled ‘Advancing the Guarantee of Roma Rights and Recognition’ to commemorate the 600th anniversary of the Roma people's presence in Spain. This event is part of the activities that Fundación Secretariado Gitano has promoted to celebrate this milestone in the history of Spain.

On 11 December, the three organisations brought together representatives of third sector organisations, politicians and opinion leaders to remember, reflect on and highlight the valuable contributions of the Roma people to the history and culture of Spain and to advance in guaranteeing the Roma rights and recognition.

 

A comprehensive law for the recognition, equality and promotion of the Roma

As part of the event, a round table discussion was organised on the ‘Keys to guaranteeing the Roma rights and recognition’, which analysed the possibilities of incorporating a perspective into public policy that takes into account the unique characteristics, contributions and specific needs of the Roma people..

In this regard, Sara Giménez, FSG’s Director General, stressed that ‘the celebration of the 600th anniversary offers us an opportunity to continue advancing and demand a qualitative leap in the way we address the situation of the Roma people,’ and announced that ‘Fundación Secretariado Gitano has launched a proposal for maximum gains, with a view to the medium to long term, but laying the foundations for what we want in the not too distant future as a framework for action by the public authorities. With this, we want to lead an initiative for the approval of a Comprehensive Law for the Roma recognition, equality and promotion that has broad political consensus and social support, which is framed within equality and the defence of individual and collective rights, in the full citizenship of Roma people.’

The exhibition ‘600 years of the Roma people. A shared history’ accompanied the event.

This event highlighted the need to promote legislative initiatives that provide organisations working with the Roma with an appropriate regulatory framework to facilitate a cross-cutting response at the institutional level and provide effective tools for these organisations to carry out work that has a positive impact on the lives of Roma people.

In addition, the event was designed as a space for historical memory, highlighting the anti-Roma measures that have been carried out in Spain throughout history, whether at the institutional level, through laws, or through practices of social exclusion, segregation or lack of access to public policies aimed at society as a whole.

The event was accompanied by an exhibition promoted by the Fundación Secretariado Gitano entitled ‘600 years of the Roma People. A shared history’, which aims to promote awareness of the Roma history and culture and celebrate the richness of a diverse society.