The Fundación Secretariado Gitano Awards spotlight key contributions to Roma equality in Spain [editar]
The Fundación Secretariado Gitano Awards highlight the work of individuals, organisations and institutions that promote social inclusion and equal opportunities for the Roma
The Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) Awards ceremony was held on 24 February 2026 at the Espacio Bertelsmann in Madrid, bringing together nearly 200 people from different fields such as the third sector, business and culture, including Isabel Perelló, President of the Supreme Court and the General Council of the Judiciary, Yolanda Díaz, Second Vice-President of the Spanish Government and Minister of Labour and Social Economy, and Ana Redondo, Minister of Equality.
With these awards, FSG recognises the commitment of individuals and organisations that promote social inclusion and equal opportunities for the Roma.
The gala, hosted by Celia Gabarri and Francisco Agarrado, FSG workers, began with a tribute to the 50th anniversary of Persecución, the work of poets Félix Grande and Juan Peña ‘El Lebrijano’.
During her speech, Sara Giménez, FSG’s Director General, described the gala as the grand finale to the celebration of the 600th anniversary of the arrival of the Roma in Spain, ‘which has been a great opportunity to continue advancing in the knowledge, recognition and equal opportunities of the Roma,’ in her words. She also recalled that, ‘despite everything, structural inequalities, discrimination and lack of recognition continue. That is why Fundación Secretariado Gitano proposes the approval of a Comprehensive Law for the recognition, equality and promotion of the Roma that provides a framework for the protection and guarantee of rights. A law that makes us better as a society,’ she concluded.
The first category awarded was Transformative Company which went to the State Public Employment Service (SEPE), for promoting the Employment Plan for the Roma in Spain (2025-2028), a pioneering initiative and a benchmark for public policies, offering specific measures adapted to the Roma population.
Next, the ONCE Foundation collected the award in the category Solidarity with ‘G’, Collective Category, for its sustained commitment to social inclusion, equal opportunities and improving access to employment for Roma in vulnerable situations.
National police officer José Antonio Jiménez Giménez was awarded in Solidarity with ‘G’, Individual Category, for promoting professional policing practices based on equality and a human rights approach, as well as guaranteeing the dignity, protection and non-discrimination of Roma.
In the category Education is the Future, the Public University of Navarre (UPNA) was awarded, for offering a proposal of great value, which favours the education of Roma, promotes access to a university degree and reinforces the commitment to the promotion of Roma.
The Public Television (RTVE) programme Aquí hay Trabajo (There's Work Here) was awarded in the category Communication with Awareness, for promoting responsible and transformative communication that highlights, values and dignifies Roma talent in access to employment.
The award in the “Tío Valentín” category, named in honour of Valentín Suárez Saavedra (1948-2019), co-founder of Fundación Secretariado Gitano, went to Loli Fernández, Roma activist and founder of the Romí Association of Granada, for her career as a role model for the Roma in promoting equality and the empowerment of women, opening up paths of opportunity and justice.
The gala closed with a performance by singer Saray Muñoz and Juan Jiménez on guitar.
Composition of the jury for the 2025 FSG Awards
This year, the jury was made up of José Antonio Montero, Director of Public Affairs & Institutional Relations at LALIGA; María Terremoto (María Fernández), flamenco singer; José Manuel González Huesa, Director General of the Servimedia agency; Lucio Calleja, Deputy Director General of Territorial Cooperation and Educational Innovation at the Spanish Ministry of Education; Manuel Bretón, President of Cáritas Spain; Luz Usamentiaga, Director General of Regulation, Public Affairs and Sustainability at Orange Spain; and Antonio Soto, First Vice-President of the FSG’s Board of Trustees,
