The voice of Roma children and adolescents is heard at Universal Children's Day events [editar]

On Universal Children's Day, 20 November, Roma children and adolescents played a prominent role in several institutional events, where they were able to convey their opinions to public officials on issues that directly affect children and adolescents

On 20 November, to mark Universal Children's Day, various institutional events were held in Spain in which Roma children played a special role, expressing their opinions to public officials and decision-makers on issues that directly affect children and adolescents.

One of these events was the meeting held at the Moncloa Palace, where Rafa Bustamante, representing the Roma Children and Adolescents Participation Group of the Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG), met with the Prime Minister and the Minister for Youth and Children, along with other children. During the meeting, they shared their thoughts on key issues for children and young people, such as mental health, digital environments, inequality and violence against children, conveying their concerns and proposals directly to the highest institutional authorities.

The other notable event took place at the conference organised by the Platform of Children's Organisations (POI), in coordination with the Ministry of Youth and Children. A commemorative event was held in which children and adolescents from different organisations presented the conclusions of the participation process ‘I am, you are, we are and we have rights’ on which they have been working over the last few months.

It is worth highlighting the work carried out by the FSG, a process in which 461 Roma children from all over Spain have participated, thanks to the commitment and dedication of the FSG teams in each region. Their involvement has made it possible to promote a real space for participation that strengthens the exercise of their rights and values the voice of Roma children and adolescents.

During the event, a group of Roma children from Madrid, participants in the FSG, presented the conclusions on cultural identity, drawn up on the basis of the work carried out in the different centres with boys and girls from all over Spain. Their intervention highlighted the importance of recognising culture and identity as an essential part of children's rights in order to break down stereotypes and promote real equality.

In addition, coinciding with the commemoration of 600 years of the Roma people's presence on the Iberian Peninsula, the children put on a special performance aimed at highlighting to the institutions the importance of the history and culture of the Roma people, as well as the need to incorporate them into the educational and social spheres.

The FSG stresses the importance of continuing to promote spaces where Roma children and adolescents can express their proposals and needs so that public authorities can move towards policies that guarantee equality and eradicate inequalities.

These activities are carried out within the framework of the State Programme for the Promotion of Roma Participation, funded by the State Programmes of Activities of General Interest considered to be of social interest, corresponding to the Secretariat of State for Social Rights.