A/HRC/23/56/Add.2
Security, including the research and analysis it conducts on racism and discrimination, and
its contribution in raising public awareness on issues related to discrimination.
22.
Special Prosecutors against discrimination, hate crimes and cybercrimes have also
been appointed which, in the view of the Special Rapporteur, is a good practice. During his
visit, the Special Rapporteur met with the Office of the Public Prosecutor for Hate Crimes
and Discrimination in Barcelona, whose work is commendable. In this regard, he welcomes
the creation of the posts of Public Prosecutor for Equal Treatment and Against
Discrimination in the Supreme Court and the Public Prosecutors for Hate Crime and
Discrimination in Madrid, Malaga, Seville and Valencia.
V. Public policies to combat racism, racial discrimination,
xenophobia and related intolerance
23.
A Human Rights Plan was adopted for the first time on 12 December 2008 for the
years 2008–2012. It set out several concrete measures relating to equality, nondiscrimination, integration and combating racism and xenophobia. By the time of the
Special Rapporteur’s visit, the Government informed him that a second Human Rights Plan
was being elaborated based on the first one, which it considered a good one. The
Government stressed that it will request support from the United Nations in drafting the
Plan, and will involve others actors, including NGOs.
24.
A Comprehensive Strategy against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and
related Intolerance was adopted in November 2011. The Strategy pays specific attention to
vulnerable groups, including ethnic minorities, the Roma, migrants, asylum seekers and
refugees. The Strategy also takes into account the situation of unaccompanied minors and
the multiple types of discrimination faced by the victims of racism. Measures and
objectives defined include combating racism in areas such as education, employment,
health, housing, media, the Internet and sports. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the
reference, inter alia, to improving institutional data gathering systems on racist incidents
and to cooperation with civil society. The Special Rapporteur notes with appreciation the
development of training courses for State Security Forces and Bodies on the identification
and registration of racist or xenophobic incidents. In 2012, a project called FIRIR was
developed for the training of 2,690 members of the Guardia Civil, the National and the
Autonomous Police (Ertzaintza, Mossos d’Esquadra and Policía Foral in Navarra), as well
as local police and security forces, on identifying and registering racist and xenophobic
incidents. This subsequently led to the adoption of the police training manual on
identification of racist or xenophobic incidents.
25.
The Special Rapporteur is concerned by the drastic budget cuts that have adversely
affected implementation of anti-racism policies. It was reported that there are not enough
resources to carry out what was agreed on in several national strategies.
VI. Main challenges in the fight against racism, racial
discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance
A.
The Roma
26.
While there is no official data on the Roma population in Spain, it is estimated at
between 650,000 and 700,000 persons. Commendable progress has been made in the
integration of the Roma. The Special Rapporteur welcomes the 2012–2020 National
Strategy for the Social Inclusion of Roma, the 2006–2013 Roma Development Plan and the
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