Annual Report 2014 - Discrimination and the Roma community

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Discrimination and the Roma Community 2014
5. Spain must do more to defend non-
discrimination and prevent the inequality gap
from getting wider
Today, more than 10 years since the transposition of
Directive 2000/43/EC, Spain is still without the inde-
pendent equality body it needs to comply with Article
13 of the Directive. There is a Council for the Elimina-
tion of Racial or Ethnic Discrimination, but this body is
not independent in terms of its budget or its makeup.
We would stress the recommendations of the Euro-
pean Commission in this regard.4 In 2015 this Council
should firmly advocate the promotion and defence of
non-discrimination based on racial or ethnic background
through its work plan to which the necessary resourc-
es must be allocated. This must be a Council that is
visible to society, that raises its voice against the de-
plorable acts taking place every day and that promotes
appropriate actions to comply with the provisions of
European legislation from which it originates. These
actions, together with the assistance service provided
to victims of discrimination forming part of this same
body, will contribute to the defence of Equal Treatment
in Spain.
4
Recommendation from the Commission to the European Parliament, the
Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the
Regions, made in June 2013 within the European framework of national
Roma integration strategies for 2020. In regards to the need for effective
implementation of Directive 2000/43/EC.
Furthermore, in the sphere of Equal Opportunities, keep
in mind that in these times of economic crisis, bud-
get cuts should not stand in the way to the guarantee
of basic social rights (employment, health, education,
housing). The inequality gap must not be permitted to
widen. In our country, however, the situation is wor-
risome considering the figures from the most recent
FOESSA report on social development and exclusion
showing that 72% of Roma live in a situation of exclu-
sion, 54% of them in severe exclusion. This is more than
double the figures from 4 years ago (26% according
to FOESSA 2009) and five times more than the rest
of society (9.5%). The employment exclusion rate is
very high among the Roma population (78.6% in 2013),
well over that of the general population. In light of this
inequality gap, Spain must invest in an inclusive social
protection system in which all people have access to
quality public services and greater effort is put into
specific compensation and activation measures adapt-
ed to the most vulnerable groups ensuring social cohe-
sion and reducing the inequality gap.