Bill to protect everyone in Spain from discrimination

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would guarantee everyone's right to equal treatment and non-discrimination, on grounds such as racial or ethnic origin, sex, age, disability, religion, sexual orientation or gender identity, illness or socioeconomic situation.
2. The protection would cover many areas of life: employment, education, health care, social services, goods and services offered to the public, housing, places open to the public, sports, and advertising and the internet.
3. The bill would define in detail the forms of discrimination: direct and indirect, by association, by error, multiple and intersectional, discriminatory harassment, retaliation and orders to discriminate. It would also regulate positive action measures.
4. Victims would have the right to receive information, advice and free legal assistance before filing a complaint.
5. The bill would create the Authority for Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination, an independent body that would help victims, mediate disputes, investigate serious cases and could go to court.
6. Anyone who discriminates could face fines from €300 to €500,000, depending on how serious the offense is. In very serious cases, additional penalties could apply, such as closing the establishment or stopping the activity.
7. If a person claims discrimination and provides evidence, the accused party would have to give an objective and reasonable justification that their conduct was not discriminatory.
8. The bill would create specialized sections for hate crimes in provincial prosecutor's offices and a Prosecutor against Hate Crimes and Discrimination at the State Prosecutor's Office.

Who it affects

• Anyone who suffers discrimination: They could receive information, free advice, help from the new Authority, and ask for compensation or for the discrimination to stop.
• Businesses and individuals selling goods or services, including housing rentals: They could not discriminate in access or conditions, and would risk fines from €300 to €500,000.
• Public administrations: They would have to guarantee equality in employment, education, health care, social services and housing, and cooperate with the new Authority.
• Human rights associations and organizations: They could defend affected people in court, with their authorization.

Words worth knowing

Discriminación interseccional (intersectional discrimination)

When several grounds of discrimination come together in the same person and create a specific form of discrimination.

Ajustes razonables (reasonable accommodations)

Necessary adaptations so that people with disabilities can exercise their rights on equal terms, as long as they do not impose a disproportionate burden.

Medidas de acción positiva (positive action measures)

Favorable treatment aimed at preventing or compensating a group's discrimination or disadvantage, while that situation lasts.

Carga de la prueba (burden of proof)

The duty to prove the facts you claim. The bill proposes that, if there is evidence of discrimination, the accused party must justify themselves.

Legitimación (standing)

The ability to go to court to defend a right.

It summarizes the drafting committee report. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries