Discrimination refers to unfavorable treatment of individuals based on their real or perceived belonging to a group with specific characteristics, such as ethnic, racial, linguistic, religious, political, social, age, gender, sexual orientation, disability, among others.

Discrimination can take place in many areas, such as access to services and goods, housing, health, employment, education, and even within the justice system.

Discrimination has been outlawed in most countries, but is a regular occurrence in practice, sometimes directly but usually in its indirect form. It is common that victims of discrimination do not recognize it, or do not know how to challenge it by legal means.

Pro Igual has developed a handy tool on the first steps in case of discrimination: Anti-Discrimination “Crisis Cards” available in several languages.

In addition, the following resources have been compiled with the view to helping actual or potential victims of discrimination to find recourse for violations of their right to nondiscrimination and equal treatment.

Council for Promotion of Equal Treatment and Nondiscrimination

• Free telephone: 900 203 041
• Alternative telephone: (+34) 91 524 35 51
• Fax: (+34) 91 524 68 91
• Email:
  • info@asistenciavictimasdiscriminacion.org
  • info@igualdadynodiscriminacion.org
  • consejo-sessi@msssi.es
• Website: http://www.igualdadynodiscriminacion.org/ and http://asistenciavictimasdiscriminacion.org/

Ombudspersons of Spain and of Autonomous Communities (competent to receive individual complaints in cases of discrimination by public institutions or officials):

Defensor del Pueblo de España

• Address: Calle Zurbano, 42, 28010 Madrid
• Free telephone: 900 101 025
• 24-hour telephone: 91 432 79 00
• Email: registro@defensordelpueblo.es

Defensór del Pueblo Andalúz

• Address: Calle Reyes Católicos, 21, 41001, Sevilla
• Tel: 954 21 21 21
• Fax: 954 21 44 97
• Email: defensor@defensordelpuebloandaluz.es

El Justicia de Aragón

• Address: Palacio de Armijo, Calle Don Juan de Aragón, 7, 50001 Zaragoza
• Tel: 976 39 93 54
• Fax: 976 39 46 32
• Email: informacion@eljusticiadearagon.com

Procuradora General del Principado de Asturias

Diputado del Común, Islas Canarias

• Address: Calle O´Daly, 28, 38700 Santa Cruz de la Palma
• Tel: 922 41 60 40
• Fax: 922 41 52 28
• Email: diputadodelcomun@diputadodelcomun.com

Procurador del Común de Castilla y Leon

• Address: Plaza de San Marcos, 5, 24001 León
• Tel: 987 27 00 95
• Fax: 987 27 01 43, 987 27 31 41
• Email: pccyl@pccyl.es

Síndic de Greuges de Catalunya

• Address: Passeíg de Lluís Companys, 7, 08003 Barcelona
• Tel: 93 301 80 75, 900 124 124
• Email: sindic@sindic.cat

Valedor do Pobo (Galicia)

• Address: Calle del Hórreo, 65, 15700, Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña
• Tel: 981 56 97 40
• Fax: 981 57 23 35
• Email: rexistro@valedordopobo.com , valedor@valedordopobo.com

Defensor del Pueblo de la Región de Murcia

• Address: Calle Alejandro Seiquer, 11, 2º, 30001 Murcia
• Tel: 968 226 843
• Fax: 968 226 845
• Email: angeles.burruezo@carm.es

Defensor del Pueblo de Navarra

• Address: Calle Emilio Arrieta, 12, 31002 Pamplona, Navarra
• Tel: 948 20 35 71
• Fax: 948 20 35 49
• Email: info@defensornavarra.com

Defensora del Pueblo Riojano

• Address: Gran Via, 7, 5º planta, 26001 Logroño, La Rioja
• Teléfono: 941 27 58 91
• Fax: 941 27 15 92
• Email: registro@defensoradelarioja.com , defensora@defensoradelarioja.com

Síndic de Greuges de la Comunitat Valenciana

• Address: Calle Pasqual Blasco, 1, 03001 Alacant
• Tel: 900 21 09 70
• Email: consultas_sindic@gva.es

Defensor del Pueblo del País Vasco (Ararteko)

• Address: Prado, 9, 01005 Vitoria-Gasteiz
• Tel: 945 13 51 18
• Fax: 945 13 51 02
• Email: defensorpv@ararteko.net

OBERAXE

In addition, Spanish Observatory of Racism and Xenophobia contains links to organizations and offices, by province, that provide assistance in cases of discrimination: http://www.oberaxe.es/creadi/