On May 13th, the CEU Cardenal Herrera University (UCH CEU) hosted the conference The Visibility of Minorities: Antigypsyism and Law in the Aula Magna of the Elche Campus. This important event addressed a timely and necessary topic, shedding light on issues that require greater visibility. The conference was part of the research project led by the Principal Investigator and Professor of Public International Law, Phd. Susana Sanz Caballero, The Crisis of the Rule of Law in the EU, funded by the Generalitat Valenciana under the AICO/2021/099 framework. The event emphasized the importance of reflecting on the rights of minorities in democratic societies.The conference was directed by Mª Rosa García Vilardell (Associate Professor at UCHCEU) and Isaac Motos Pérez (Philosophy graduate).
In this regard, the Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National, Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities (1992) establishes that States have the responsibility to protect and promote the identity of minorities within their territories. This framework, which has become a cornerstone in the defense of human rights, remains a key reference in contemporary discussions on social coexistence.
As discussed throughout the conference, the issue of minorities remains of vital importance, even in democratic contexts, as it reflects the reality of democratic societies called to thrive in pluralism. In this sense, in a democracy, the question of “the other” is essential, and the coexistence between majority and minority groups is fundamental to ensuring social stability. As emphasized during the conference, discrimination and exclusion of minority groups, such as the Roma people, remain a concerning reality that demands focused attention.
One of the main topics discussed during the conference was the analysis of hate crimes, particularly those related to antigypsyism. In 2022, the Spanish Penal Code took a significant step by including antigypsyism and other forms of discrimination as motives that can aggravate the classification of a crime as a hate crime. As such, the conference featured speakers such as Isaac Motos, Emilio Israel Cortés Santiago, and Carlos Pérez del Valle, who provided in-depth perspectives on the key topics surrounding the main theme of the event: the legal and penal configuration of hate crimes, the historical evolution, and current manifestations of antigypsyism, as well as mechanisms and instruments for the protection against antigypsyism.
In conclusion, the conference served as a space to reflect on the importance of fostering greater social awareness and sensitivity on these issues, while also seeking to encourage the commitment of all parties —institutions, civil society, and political actors— in defending the rights of minorities.
