Romani Week 2024 [editar]

The slogan of this year's edition is "Unveiling our past to reclaim our future". It focuses on how history affects the current situation of the Roma population in Europe and what are the prospects for the future, delving into the phenomenon of antigypsyism and how to address the historical injustices to which Roma have been subjected since their arrival in Europe.

Policy-makers, experts, activists and organisations concerned about persistent antigypsyism in Europe participated in Romani Week, which took place at the headquarters of the European Economic and Social Committee and the European Committee of the Regions.

The 2024 edition aimed to continue to put at the centre of the political debate the situation of Roma across Europe, and how achieving the goals of equality, inclusion and participation of Roma people is necessary for a more united and united Europe. The debate focused on how the Roma agenda fits into broader European policy priorities.

From this edition we would highlight the event recognising and awarding a "Most Roma-friendly Mayor" prize in the Western Balkans and Turkey. It aims to change attitudes towards Roma inclusion and features local authorities empowering Roma communities and listening to their needs. Another relevant event was the one commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Roma Holocaust. In this event, the aim was to reflect on the mistakes of the past and how the lessons learned should serve to ensure that something similar does not happen again in the present and in the future.

Fundación Secretariado Gitano also had the opportunity to participate as a speaker in the event "The role of Civil Society Organisations in the future of equality, inclusion and participation of Roma". The event was divided into three different blocks:

- Funding. for the functioning of Roma civil society.
- Participation in policy-making processes: the block provides a platform for CSOs to share experiences on their involvement in the development of NRSF and to address the quality of their participation in other policy-making processes. At this event, FSG had the opportunity to share its vision of how it should work together and with public administrations in a united and consensual manner.
- Opportunities for the promotion of Roma rights and interests.

Within the Romani Week there was space for other very relevant topics such as the elections of the European Union in June 2024, the renewal of the political leadership of the EU, the possible risks of having a greater political representation of the extreme right in the European Parliament and the need to support the political representation of the Roma.

All in all, the aim has been to provide a platform and dialogue for Roma to discuss the political, economic and human rights changes that Europe is facing today, and what changes are needed to ensure that Roma are a more present priority within mainstream political discourse and policy priorities at EU level.