The Barcelona Municipal Council of Roma People facilitates and promotes the participation of citizens in political decision-making processes since 1998. The Council is a consultative and participatory body. It promotes the recognition of Roma culture, fights against racism, discrimination and, above all, anti-Roma sentiments and seek to ensure the well-being of Roma people.
The Chair is the councillor responsible for Roma affairs and the Vice Chair is a representative of an organisation that is part of the council. Some 20 organisations participate in the Council and there are one or two full council meetings a year and at least 4 meetings of the Executive Committee
The city of Barcelona celebrates several key dates for the Roma community including International Roma Day (Roma flag on the city hall’s balcony, concert etc.), Romani Resistance Day (with the Jewish community), Day against Romaphobia (the Great “Gypsy” Round-Up, in 1749) which was also marked this year with information panels in the Convent de Sant Agustí municipal building.
Roma culture has been included in the cities’ cultural programme, and the city has provided financial subsidies for Roma projects in the field of culture, learning Roma language, health related community initiatives etc. (90 000 Euros for 21 projects in 2021).
