Observatory On Racial Discrimination

Many countries have local and national level racial equality councils to deal with the problems of racial discrimination. In Europe, there is the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance and the European Monitoring Centre on Racism and Xenophobia to control racial discrimination and intolerance.

With the objective of maintaining equality and restoring equitable distribution of resources and opportunities among all its citizens irrespective of their race, color, nationality or ethnic origin, it is essential that a non-partisan approach be adopted and an independent body be nominated to monitor episodes of racial discrimination, racism and xenophobia, and also to device strategies to prevent and combat the occurrence of these episodes.

It is with this intention that the Government of Spain has created the Spanish Observatory of Racism and Xenophobia in order to put a stop to the frequent volatile episodes of racial discrimination and to restore normalcy and decorum in the country. The Observatory has been established with the objective of controlling and reducing the increase in incidents of racial discrimination, racism and xenophobia against foreign nationals and members of ethnic groups and minority communities in Spain.

The observatory conducts periodical surveys of the existing situation of xenophobia in Spain, analyses the collected data and publishes the reports. It is also involved in networking with similar international bodies involved in eradicating and combating racism. It operates on the fundamental principle of restoring peace and promotion of the principle of equality of treatment for all.