Spain
Spain regularly reports hate crime data to ODIHR. Spain's Criminal Code contains general penalty enhancement and substantive offence provisions. The Interior Ministry's State Secretariat of Security collects hate crime data from the Catalan Autonomous Police, the Autonomous Basque Police, Navarre Police, National Police Force and the Civil Guard. Spain publishes annual reports on hate crimes.
How hate crime data is collected
The Statistical Crime System (SEC) is a unified system for collecting crime statistics. The system describes the rules and procedures on how to record statistical facts. All hate crimes are recorded, regardless of whether they are reported by the police or by the victim. Moreover, in addition to their criminal qualification or alleged violation of administrative rules, members of different law enforcement bodies must describe the criminal context when recording the crime. In this section, the police must determine and mark one or more biases, as appropriate. In addition, there is a Police Action Protocol for hate crimes and conduct that violates the legal rules on discrimination, which dictates operational actions and victims' care. Every year, a comprehensive report on hate crime incidents is prepared and published on the website of the Ministry of the Interior.
Official Data
National developments
The first Action Protocol for the State Security Forces on Hate Crimes has been developed by the Ministry of Interior. It provides the security forces with a list of bias indicators to focus on in order to ensure correct collection of evidence and registering of hate crimes.
The Ministry of Interior further created a function description for "Hate crime police officers". These specialists from the State Security Forces will maintain contact with civil society in order to better prevent and resolve hate crimes.
The Ministry of Employment and Social Security has begun training teachers on how to detect racist or xenophobic incidents at schools.
Spanish authorities have worked on a Practical Guide on Discrimination, to be published in July 2015, which synthesizes all available information on how and where to report hate crimes and discrimination incidents in Spain.
Incidents reported by civil society, international organizations and the Holy See
Reports
Racism and xenophobia
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the Union of Islamic Communities of Spain, Pro Igual and the Cabinet of Social Studies reported the stabbing of five people from China, Morocco, Pakistan and South America. The Cabinet of Social Studies reported a further case of arson on a warehouse with 14 men of African descent inside, and three physical assaults, including a knife attack carried out by a group. The Movement Against Intolerance reported three physical assaults causing serious injuries.Pro Igual reported an additional physical assault causing serious injury, one physical assault against a Mongolian man and two incidents of graffiti.read more ›
Bias against Roma and Sinti
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The Cabinet of Social Studies and Pro Igual reported an arson attack by a group of several hundred people against the homes of six Roma families. Pro Igual reported an additional arson attack on a Roma home. The Cabinet of Social Studies also reported a series of attacks against the houses of Roma families in which two were set on fire and a further four were damaged by thrown stones.read more ›
Bias against Muslims
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The Cabinet of Social Studies and the Movement Against Intolerance reported an incident of the desecration of a place of worship involving graffiti on a new local mosque and the placing of pieces of pig’s heads and bacon next to the entrance. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported a further case of graffiti on a mosque.read more ›
Bias against Christians and members of other religions
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Jehovah's Witnesses – Spain reported an arson attack on a place of worship.read more ›
Bias against other groups - Sexual orientation or gender identity
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Pro Igual reported a physical assault causing serious injury against a transgender woman, in which a car dragged the victim over several metres. Pro Igual and the Movement Against Intolerance reported an additional physical assault against a gay couple. The Movement Against Intolerance reported an additional physical assault causing serious injuries to a gay man and an arson attack on the home of an LGBT activist.read more ›
International reports
Racism and xenophobia
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that the Council for Victims of Hate Crimes and Discrimination (COVIDOD) was established at the national level. It is a network of 20 civil society groups advocating for a law that guarantees legal and humanitarian assistance and protection for victims of hate crime.
Key observation
ODIHR observes that Spain has not reported to ODIHR the numbers of prosecuted hate crime cases or information on sentenced hate crime cases.
