Rise in the number of cases of discrimination reported in the city
The report from the Observatory on Discrimination for 2023 shows an increase in the number of reported cases of discrimination in Barcelona. The 865 cases reported represent a rise of 234 compared to the previous year. In addition, 252 cases indicate two reasons for discrimination, with racism and xenophobia accounting for the highest number of incidents.
Once again, racism and xenophobia topped this year’s list of reasons for discrimination, with 230 reports recorded. These were followed by health, with 217 cases, LGBTI-phobia, with 2025, language, with 125, and gender, with 123. Ableism (discrimination against people with physical or mental disabilities), aporophobia (aversion to poverty), ageism (discrimination because of age), religion and ideology made up the rest of the list.
Private organisations and companies are the main discriminators, and the rights most commonly violated are the right to moral integrity, mainly owing to LGBTI-phobia, racism, health and gender, the right to enjoy quality public services and the right to services. Banks continue to violate access to free accounts, particularly with people in irregular situations.
Regarding situations resulting from two forms of discrimination, many reported cases relating to health are linked to gender, ableism, ageism and aporophobia, while cases of racism and xenophobia are linked to the other reasons for discrimination analysed by the observatory.
Main discrimination
People of Arab of Maghrebi origin, black people and those of Latin American origin, in this order, experienced the most cases of discrimination due to racism and xenophobia, with situations occurring as a result of company management, private safety in leisure spaces and discos, staff in private clinics and representatives from estate agents.
In the case of discrimination on the grounds of health, 151 incidents were linked to mental health diagnoses and 42 were linked to sexual and reproductive health. The public administration was the main discriminator.
Half of the cases reporting LGBTI-phobia were for gayphobia (109 cases) and 58 were for transphobia. Individuals were the main discriminators in these cases.
Finally, all the incidents relating to discrimination for the use of language were linked to the use of Catalan, with private organisations and companies the main discriminators.
The report by the Observatory on Discrimination for 2023 was compiled with the participation of the Office for Non-Discrimination (OND) and the Board of Entities with the Support Service for Victims of Discrimination (SAVD).
You can find the report here.
