The Reuters news agency reports that roughly a million Romani people live in Spain today, where they are known as Gitanos. For centuries they have been subject to persecution and to deeply-rooted ostracism and prejudices against them in society. 

As a consequence of their unequal position in society, members of this group today are grappling with high unemployment, poverty, and bad housing conditions. Things may be looking up now, though, as a proposal aimed at tackling the deep-rooted inequality suffered by Spain’s Roma people won cross-party parliamentary backing at the end of last year.

The new proposal seeks a state pact to combat discrimination against Romani people and proposes measures such as improved Romani access to education, an end to shanty towns, and for "antigitanismo" (antigypsyism) as a kind of motivation to be added to the country’s Criminal Code. The Government must respond to the proposal within six months, according to Ismael Cortes, one of three Romani representatives in Parliament -- the highest-ever number.

Link: http://www.romea.cz/en/news/world/romani-mp-in-spain-introduces-bill-to-improve-roma-access-to-education-and-add-anti-romani-bias-to-the-criminal-code

fShare

Tweet