L'Ajuntament de Girona posa en marxa un servei d'atenció a les víctimes de discriminació

The Girona City Council has launched a new municipal service aimed at supporting individuals who have experienced discrimination within the city. The service will become operational on 20 October and will be based at the newly established House of Non-Discrimination, located on Carrer de les Ferreries Velles. This initiative will be coordinated with the Office of the Citizens’ Ombudsperson.

Although the House of Non-Discrimination will serve as the central hub, the service will be deployed in a decentralised manner through various specialised public services and key partner organisations. Affected individuals may approach any of these spaces to report or discuss their experiences. Municipal services involved include social services, the Civic Centres Network, the Trobades amb Sostre space, La Sopa centre, Güell Espai Jove, and the LGTBI Comprehensive Care Service (SAI). Among the specialised organisations participating are Fundació SER.GI, Espai LGTBI, Associació Trans*, Càritas, MIFAS, Red Cross, Suara Cooperativa, and CNO Girona, among others.

The service will provide initial support and guidance to individuals seeking assistance. Professionals will assess whether the situation constitutes an emergency and whether it qualifies as a case of discrimination. If so, a personalised action plan will be developed, incorporating a community-based and restorative approach. Some organisations will also offer legal advice, psychosocial support, and other specialised resources.

In addition to assisting victims, the service aims to train professionals, raise public awareness, prevent discriminatory practices, and establish mechanisms for reporting and monitoring. Informative leaflets will be distributed, explaining what discrimination is and how to identify common scenarios—such as being denied housing due to nationality or skin colour, being unable to choose clothing or access toilets in accordance with one’s gender identity, or being prohibited from entering public establishments while wearing a hijab. These leaflets will be available in multiple languages (Spanish, Arabic, French, and English) and in accessible formats for individuals with visual impairments, including QR codes.

The House of Non-Discrimination is the result of a participatory process conducted in early 2025 as part of the Commit to Rights project. During this process, operational protocols and pathways were defined to ensure equal treatment in Girona. The sessions addressed key areas such as health, housing, employment, and leisure, as well as axes of discrimination including linguistic rights, gender identity, sexual orientation, aporophobia, and the situation of homeless individuals.

This new service is part of the European project Commit To Rights – Commitment to Rights, funded by the European Commission and led by Girona City Council through the Council for Social Cohesion and Services. Its primary objective is to develop inclusive and participatory local public policies that prevent and address discrimination through an intersectional approach.

The project involves several partners: Girona City Council leads the participatory process and the implementation of the service; the University of Girona conducts research on discrimination in the city; Fundació SER.GI is responsible for deploying pilot circuits and services; and the Girona Region of Knowledge Foundation manages communication and dissemination activities. Two European institutions also participate: the Municipality of Reggio Emilia and Fondazione E35 (Italy), promoting knowledge exchange and strengthening the twinning initiated in 1982.

For further information, please consult the website of Girona City Council’s Non-Discrimination Service and the Commit to Rights project website.