Breaking the Barriers: Gypsy Lawyers Speak Out on Discrimination and Resistance in the Legal Field

Manuel Reyes, a 51-year-old lawyer from Córdoba, has been one of the few judges and prosecutors of his ethnic group to practice in the country. He is of gypsy descent from both his father and mother, and has experienced stigma in his professional life, including instances of rejection reported by the Secretariado Gitano Foundation in 2022.

Pastora Filigrana, a lawyer from Seville, also feels a responsibility to challenge stereotypes and discrimination in the legal field. She believes that the lack of clear records about the Roma people contributes to discrimination. Unconscious anti-gypsy bias is a known phenomenon that can influence judicial decisions.

Josefa Salazar Salazar, a lawyer in Barcelona, remembers her parents’ struggle to find housing due to discrimination. She now runs a successful law firm and advocates for visibility as a gypsy business owner.

As International Gypsy People’s Day approaches on April 8, there is a call for increased awareness of the challenges faced by the Roma community in the legal sector. Efforts to promote diversity and inclusion have been met with some resistance, but there is a push for change. The Association of Gypsy Jurists continues to work towards creating opportunities for young gypsies in the legal field.