Racism and xenophobia are the main causes of the situations dealt with at the OND. A total of 46 cases have been attended to, up by 6% on the same period in the previous year. Most of the complaints from people who suffered such discrimination were over degrading treatment and restrictions to or refusals of access to bank services.

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown has seen a rise in number of situations involving racist discrimination in neighbourhood communities and LGBTI-phobia discrimination in households from people unable to accept sexual diversity. The latter situation has resulted in the OND’s having to deal has dealt with 28 cases of discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation or gender identity.

The third reason for discrimination is gender, representing 10% of the cases dealt with, up by 7% on the previous year (2019), having previously been fewer than cases of discrimination involving disability, health and financial situation.

As for the cases where the OND started proceedings for violation of rights, the rights concerned were moral integrity (50% of cases), physical integrity (27% of cases) and provision of services (20%).

During the first six months of the year the OND attended to a total of 249 requests for help, mainly involving legal advice, guidance and educational support and psycho-social counselling.

A municipal service since 1998

The Office for Non-Discrimination is a municipal service aimed at dealing with human rights violations relating to discrimination: it attends to, advises on, offers mediation in and brings disciplinary proceedings against cases of discrimination. It is also the municipal citizen assistance office that provides information and training and raises awareness on human rights and citizen rights in a Barcelona.