SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 10 Apr. (EUROPE PRESS) –
The Cabildo de Tenerife has hosted a commemorative act on the occasion of Roma Day, which has included the reading of a manifesto to claim the rights of Roma people and value their culture and history.
The associations Karipen, Romí Emprendedoras, the Gypsy Community, E Rroma Va Sociocultural Federation, Senda Flamenca and Romi Kamela Nakerar participated in the meeting, which took place at the Palacio Insular.
Likewise, it was attended by the president of the Cabildo de Tenerife, Pedro Martín; the CEO of Equality and Prevention of Gender Violence, Priscila de León, together with representatives of the political groups that make up the Cabildo.
Pedro Martín emphasized the importance of this commemoration to build ties and unite peoples: “Today is a day of recognition of gypsy people, proud of their past, their history, culture and also their values. How All peoples have evolved, and this change that is taking place in society has also occurred within it, as we have been able to observe, especially with the achievements and advances made by Roma women,” she said.
For Pedro Martín it is “the responsibility of all institutions to work hand in hand for a more egalitarian, just and better society”.
José Carmona, representative of the E Rroma Va Sociocultural Federation, pointed out that crucial moments are being lived to continue advancing towards the inclusion of the Roma people. For Carmona it is a significant date, “of homage and recognition to the culture, traditions and history of our people, in which we pay tribute to our ancestors, persecuted, convicted and murdered. But it is also a day of vindication, to raise the voice and make visible the path that still remains to be traveled in terms of equality, in the fight against discrimination, exclusion and antigypsyism”. “A path that would not be possible without the involvement and commitment of the institutions,” said Carmona.
In this sense, he highlighted the support received from the Cabildo de Tenerife, “which has set up the Insular Table of the Gypsy People to work together with the associations of the Gypsy people in Tenerife”.
For her part, Josefa Santiago Fernández, representative of the Romi Kamela Nakerar association, stressed the achievements made in terms of equality and rights by Roma women, “we are happy with all the steps achieved by Roma women”.
Josefa Santiago highlighted the creation of a specific commission for education and employment for women within the Insular Group of the Gypsy People, “a space to give voice to our needs and demands, to be protagonists of the projects and actions that concern us, and that we are guaranteed participation, equal opportunities and non-discrimination”.
“This is an important date for Roma people from Tenerife and from different parts of the world. To value our identity, rights and freedoms, and our firm will to continue being Roma,” he added.
