Annual Report 2014 - Discrimination and the Roma community

101

Headway made in combating discrimination in 2013-2014

2. National

Assistance service for victims of

discrimination based on racial or ethnic

origin

The Assistance Service for victims of discrimination

based on racial or ethnic origin is a free national re-

source designed to assist victims of racial or ethnic

discrimination which provides support and independent

advice to those subject to discrimination in the areas

of employment, education, housing, access to goods

and services, etc.

This service is one of the activities of the Committee

for the Elimination of Racial and Ethnic Discrimination,

hereafter the “Committee” and is linked to the imple-

mentation of Article 13 of Council Directive 2000/43/

EC which provides that “Member States shall designate

a body or bodies for the promotion of equal treatment

of all persons without discrimination on the grounds of

racial or ethnic origin,” giving these bodies the compe-

tence to independently assist victims of discrimination,

conduct studies and publish independent reports and

formulate recommendations regarding these matters.

The Ministry of Health, Social Services and Equality

along with the Committee have awarded this service

to the Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG) to perform

some of the duties called for under the Directive to-

gether with 7 social organisations.

These social service providers are specialised in com-

bating discrimination

and are in direct contact with po-

tential victims of discrimination:

•

Spanish Catholic Migrations Commission (ACCEM)

•

Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR).

•

Spanish Red Cross

The Assistance Network for Victims of Discrimination was created in 2010

and is a network of social organisations that formed part of the Council

for the Advancement of Equal Treatment (now called the Committee

for the Elimination of Racial or Ethnic Discrimination). Together with the

victim assistance group of the aforementioned Council, it developed

a work methodology to provide assistance in cases of racial or ethnic

discrimination. This methodology is still applied today by the network of

organisations providing this service.

•

CEPAIM Foundation

•

Fundación Secretariado Gitano (FSG)

•

Movement against Intolerance (MCI)

•

Movement for Peace (MPDL)

•

Acoge Network (RA)

The service is provided nationwide and from its cre-

ation (15 March 2013) until now it has opened 21 official

offices and 83 collaborating offices in all the Autono-

mous Communities of Spain and the Autonomous City

of Melilla. It has a total of 104 offices serving those who

may need our services. There is also a free telephone

support service (900 20 30 41) and help through the

website run by skilled personnel. The services brochure

has been translated into five languages (English, French,

Arabic, Romanian and Chinese) in order to reach the

greatest possible number of people who could need

our support and counselling.

The Service’s objectives are:

•

To provide independent in person, telephone and

online assistance to those suffering, who have

suffered or who know of situations of discrimi-

nation based on racial or ethnic origin.

•

To provide a nearby information and awareness

service adapted to the real situation of potential

victims of discrimination and the various sec-

tors of the population.

•

To conduct training, information and awareness

activities that promote a deeper understand-

ing and implementation of the principle of equal

treatment and non-discrimination based on race

or ethnic origin.