The Barcelona even has been divided into two parts this year: a commemorative programme was offered this June around 28, while most of the 2021 Barcelona Pride has been moved to September.
Just as they did in 2019, the Mossos d’Esquadra [Catalan regional police] and the Guàrdia Urbana [Barcelona city police] will be running a joint booth at the city’s LGBTI Pride Festival. A special programme was designed last year (which the police force also took part in), because of the pandemic-related restrictions, which was broadcast on television and digital platforms.
The most important activities at this year’s edition are taking place tomorrow, under the slogan “Indetectables=intransmissibles” [Undetectable = Untransmissable], with the aim of combating serophobia, a stigma that still surrounds many of the issues relating to HIV.
The activities will include an associations fair along Passeig de Lluís Companys, from 11 am to 7 pm, where the joint booth will be located. The idea is to offer information to anyone interested on the process for admission to the force, as well as advice on preventing and taking action against discriminatory forms of behaviour against the LGBTI collective.
Working in defence of non-discrimination
Back in 2008, as part of the 4th European Conference on Gay and Lesbian Policies, the Guàrdia Urbana approved the first protocol of the Spanish State for combating discriminatory attitudes and hate crimes. The procedure was revised and published again in 2018.
Work was then carried out with Barcelona’s Provincial Public Prosecutor’s Office as a result, alongside the Mossos d’Esquadra, to incorporate hate crimes into police statistics, following the recommendations of international bodies such as the OSCE and the UN. The Guàrdia Urbana is currently taking part in the work group, at Barcelona’s Public Prosecutor’s Office, on hate crimes and discrimination.
Meanwhile the Guàrdia Urbana has been actively collaborating with the Gaylespol association to organise training initiatives on sexual diversity, in which it has also taken part, and also with the Office for Non-Discrimination and the Councillor’s Office for Feminism and LGBTI Affairs to make progress in improving comprehensive assistance for victims of discrimination in the city.
As for children and teenagers, the Safety Education Service has been providing regular sessions at the city’s schools for preventing and raising awareness of school bullying.
Specific training has also been offered in this area to the entire organisation, within the framework of the Neighbourhood Police’s ongoing internal and specific training.