Burlada hosted the conference entitled ‘The Legal Framework in the Fight against Racism and Discrimination’
The proposal by the Racial Justice and Empowerment Network was presented at the Workshop on Legal Self-Defence Against Racism in Navarre
On 13 May, we held the workshop ‘The legal framework in the fight against racism and discrimination – A workshop on legal self-defence against racism’ at the Palacete Municipal in Burlada (Navarra), as part of the Racial Justice and Empowerment 2026 project.
The event, organised by the Federation of Roma Associations of Navarre (Gaz Kaló) and La Fragua Projects, brought together around 40 people, including professionals, activists and members of the public, establishing itself as a forum for critical education, legal empowerment and collective action against racism.
The event was organised in collaboration with the Government of Navarre—through the Directorate-General for Migration Policy—and Burlada Town Council, and was funded by central government through the Ministry of Social Rights, Consumer Affairs and the 2030 Agenda, and by the regional government through the Department of Social Rights, Social Economy and Employment of the Government of Navarre.
Institutional representation and opening of the event
Early in the morning, the workshop was preceded by a press conference that highlighted the institutional interest in this type of initiative. The event was attended by the Mayor of Burlada, Berta Arizkun González, alongside key representatives of the Government of Navarre, such as Eva Gurría Marco, Director-General for Migration Policy. They were later joined by Carmen Remón Ochoa, from the Ayllu Service for Intercultural Coexistence and the Fight against Racism and Xenophobia; María Ángeles García Briñol, from the Intercultural Coexistence Section; and Sonia Santafé Dencausa, from the Social Inclusion and Care for Minorities Section of the Department of Social Rights, Social Economy and Employment.
This presence highlights the strategic role these spaces play as meeting points between the public sector, social organisations and the community.
From legal training to collective self-defence
The workshop was led by Paco Vargas, Pastora Filigrana and Iñaki Vázquez, with additional support from Ricardo Hernández, director of Gaz Kaló.
The presentations addressed racism from a structural perspective, framing it as a historical reality deeply rooted in both institutions and everyday life. Throughout the session, participants examined the legal framework for equal treatment and non-discrimination, as well as the various ways in which these principles are violated in areas such as employment, housing, healthcare and access to services.
Beyond the legal content, the workshop focused on the need to turn that knowledge into practical tools for legal self-defence, strengthening the ability of individuals and communities to respond to situations of discrimination.
Local action: the TECIR Network
One of the elements that particularly enriched the event was the participation of the TECIR Network (Technicians for Intercultural Coexistence and the Fight against Racism and Xenophobia), promoted by the Government of Navarre through the Directorate-General for Migration Policy.
The involvement of these professionals made it possible to link legal analysis with the day-to-day reality of social work, offering a perspective rooted in community engagement, mediation and support. Their work is essential for translating public policies into concrete practices that make a difference to people’s lives.
Social fabric and partnership-building
The event also saw the active participation of professionals from the Gaz Kaló technical team and activists from SOS Racismo Nafarroa, which helped to create a space for sharing experiences of intervention, reporting and support.
This diversity established the workshop as a hub for local collaboration, where technical expertise and community experience come together to strengthen collective responses to racism.
The Regional Law: from recognition to implementation
One of the key policy priorities was the promotion of Regional Law 13/2023 on combating racism and xenophobia in Navarre. During the workshop, its progressive nature was highlighted, whilst the need for its effective implementation was emphasised.
In this regard, the importance of utilising the instruments provided for in the law itself was emphasised, such as the Navarre Council for the Fight against Racism and Xenophobia, the development of regular plans, and the incorporation of restorative justice mechanisms as a means of prevention and redress.
Within this framework, the process of recognition and reconciliation with the Romani people took on particular significance; the law enshrines this as a commitment to remembrance, truth and historical redress. This is a pioneering measure both nationally and across Europe, with the potential to mark a turning point in the fight against anti-Romani discrimination.
It is worth noting that La Fragua Projects, in collaboration with Gaz Kaló, played an active role in the drafting of this law, drawing on its community experience and its long-standing work in the defence of rights.
Under-reporting and the right to justice
The workshop also addressed under-reporting as one of the main obstacles in the fight against discrimination, linked to factors such as a lack of awareness of one’s rights, low expectations, mistrust of institutions, and the normalisation of racism.
In light of this, the need arose to strengthen community support, improve access to resources and develop collective strategies to ensure that recognised rights are upheld.
A network to strengthen the response: RJE Network
The event also served as the launch platform for the Racial Justice and Empowerment Network, an initiative spearheaded by La Fragua Projects to establish a stable network of collaboration between organisations, professionals and activists.
This proposal aims to improve access to resources, enhance the coordination of responses to racism and strengthen advocacy capacity through collaborative efforts.
A commitment to structural transformation
The workshop forms part of a broader strategy promoted by the Racial Justice and Empowerment 2026 project, which aims to build capacity, generate critical knowledge and promote structural changes in public policy.
The Burlada conference once again highlights that legal recognition is merely a starting point. Ensuring rights means working towards their effective implementation, by strengthening both the tools available and the collective capacity to put them into practice.
In the face of systemic racism, the response must also be systemic: sustained over time, coordinated across networks and deeply rooted in the reality of local communities.
Source and photos: La Fragua Projects
