We contribute to the Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United Nations, providing information on progress and challenges in the defence of the rights of Roma people [editar]

Spain will be examined at the 35th session of the Council, between January and February of 2020. Previously, both the Government and other relevant actors present their reports on the situation of human rights in the country for the analysis of the working groups.

The FSG has submitted contributions both to the Government's report, via the Office of Human Rights, and directly to the United Nations, through a process also open to civil society and whose term ended on July 18. In addition, as members of other Platforms, we have also participated in their own reports, such as the Children's Platform and the DESC Platform.

From the Fundación Secretariado Gitano we believe it is essential to participate in spaces and mechanisms established by international organizations such as the United Nations in order to defend the rights of Roma people.

In our contribution to the United Nations we have explained the progress that has taken place since the last Review in 2015, in political, normative and institutional terms, but we also highlight the remaining challenges, focusing especially on the protection of the right to education of Roma students, guaranteeing that all Roma children complete compulsory secondary education and combating school segregation; the right to non-discrimination of Roma people, with the urgent need to expand the regulatory framework with an Integral Law of Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination; showing the serious inequality suffered by Roma people in terms of poverty and social exclusion and showing that ethnic origin does a condition the situation of inequality and socioeconomic disadvantage; or the right to decent housing, eradicating shanty towns and reducing substandard housing, among others.

We hope that the subsequent Recommendations of the Human Rights Council to the Government of Spain will include these topics.

 

From the Fundación Secretariado Gitano we believe it is essential to participate in spaces and mechanisms established by international organizations such as the United Nations to defend the rights of Roma people