Free help for discrimination victims from the state and NGOs

Key rules

• Cost: The state service and NGO first-step advice are free.
• Immigration status: Most NGOs help you whatever your immigration status.
• Your consent: An NGO needs your consent to act for you in an individual case.
• Contact details: Check the current phone number and email on the Ministry of Equality website before you call.

Where to start

You do not need to pay a lawyer to take a first step. If you think you have been discriminated against because of your race or ethnic origin, the state runs a free service for you. NGOs offer free advice too, and most of them help you whatever your immigration status.

The state service

The Servicio de Asistencia y Orientación a Víctimas de Discriminación Racial o Étnica is run by the Consejo para la Eliminación de la Discriminación Racial o Étnica, which belongs to the Ministry of Equality. The Fundación Secretariado Gitano carries out the work for the state.

It gives free, confidential legal guidance and accompaniment. You can reach it by phone, web form or email. It is open to victims in Spain, including foreigners.

The freephone number has been 900 203 041. Contact details change over time, so find the current phone number and email on the Consejo's page on the Ministry of Equality website before you call.

NGOs that help for free

Many organisations give free advice or accompaniment, often by appointment or online:

• Red Acoge, Accem, Cruz Roja and Cáritas: support for migrants.
• CEAR: refugees and asylum seekers.
• SOS Racismo: racism, through regional federations.
• Fundación Secretariado Gitano: the Roma community.
• Movimiento contra la Intolerancia and Rights International Spain: intolerance and rights cases.
• FELGTBI+: LGBT people.
• CERMI: people with disabilities.
• Local immigrant-support associations: help close to where you live.

Some groups focus on one community, so pick the one closest to your situation. Availability and eligibility vary by office, so contact your local one first.

Can an NGO act for you?

Registered associations whose statutes include defending equal treatment can act in court or administrative cases for you. In an individual case, you will normally need to give your consent.

When there is no single identifiable victim, an association may still act for the general or collective interest, if its statutes cover that field. In work disputes, trade unions and employer organisations have their own right to act.

Other places to complain

An NGO or the state service can help you decide where to take your case. The directory below lists the police, prosecutors, Labour Inspectorate, ombudsmen and other bodies you can go to.

Directory of discrimination complaint and help bodies in Spain

Who to contact for free help or to complain

• Free state help service for racial or ethnic discrimination: Get free, confidential legal guidance and accompaniment by phone, web form or email. The freephone number has been 900 203 041. The service is run through the Consejo for the elimination of racial or ethnic discrimination, under the Ministry of Equality.

• Police (Policía Nacional, Guardia Civil or regional police): Report a hate crime or an assault. Call 112 in an emergency. You can also report in person at a police station.

• Fiscalía (public prosecutor), hate crime and discrimination prosecutors: Ask prosecutors to open an investigation into a hate crime or serious discrimination.

• Labour Inspectorate (Inspección de Trabajo y Seguridad Social): Report discrimination by an employer. It can investigate and fine the employer.

• Defensor del Pueblo (national ombudsman): File a free written complaint about a state administration. It can request reports and make recommendations, but it cannot impose sanctions.

• Regional ombudsman (for example Defensor del Pueblo Andaluz, Síndic de Greuges, Ararteko, Valedor do Pobo): File a free written complaint about a regional or town administration in your region. In regions without their own ombudsman, use the Defensor del Pueblo.

• Consumer office or regional authority: Complain about discrimination when buying goods or services. Ask your town hall's consumer office or regional government which office handles it.

• Oficina Nacional de Lucha contra los Delitos de Odio: Ask about reporting hate crimes through the national police hate-crime channels.

• Regional equality offices (for example Catalonia's Autoritat Catalana per a la Igualtat de Tracte): Ask your region's equality office or institute whether it takes discrimination complaints. Rules and offices differ by community.

• Barcelona's Oficina per la No Discriminació: Get advice, mediation and support if you live in Barcelona. Madrid, Valencia and other large cities run similar municipal services. Smaller towns usually rely on regional bodies.

• Fundación Secretariado Gitano and Movimiento contra la Intolerancia: Get free advice and accompaniment. The first focuses on the Roma community and is part of the state service.

• SOS Racismo, Red Acoge, Accem, Cruz Roja and Cáritas: Get free advice or accompaniment as a migrant, usually whatever your immigration status. Many offices work by appointment or online, and availability varies by office.

• CEAR: Get free help if you are a refugee or asylum seeker.

• FELGTBI+ and CERMI: Get free help if the discrimination is linked to being LGBT (FELGTBI+) or to disability (CERMI).

Frequently asked questions

Can an NGO file a discrimination complaint for me?

Yes, a registered association whose statutes cover equal treatment can act for you in court or administrative proceedings, but in an individual case it needs your authorisation. It can also take part as an interested party. Ask the NGO to check that its statutes include this purpose before you sign.

Can an NGO act when there is no single identifiable victim?

Yes, an association can sometimes act for general or collective interests, but only where its statutes cover that field. Trade unions and employer organisations have their own standing in labour matters.

Which NGOs help foreigners with discrimination for free?

Several NGOs give free advice or accompaniment, including Accem, Cruz Roja, Red Acoge, Cáritas and SOS Racismo, and most help you whatever your immigration status. Some are specialised: CEAR works with refugees and asylum seekers, and Fundación Secretariado Gitano with the Roma community. Many work by appointment or online, so contact your local office first.

How do I reach the state discrimination assistance service?

You can reach the state service by freephone, web form or email, and it gives free, confidential legal guidance and accompaniment. The freephone number has been 900 203 041. Find current contact details on the Ministry of Equality website, on the page of the council against racial or ethnic discrimination.