Municipality/Region

Basque Autonomous Region, Spain

Summary

Eraberean is a networking initiative of the Basque Government's Department of Employment and Social Policies. The network operates throughout the Basque Autonomous Region and combats discrimination based on race, ethnicity, national origin, sexual orientation or identity and gender identity.

The network is comprised of the Department of Employment and Social Policies (via the Directorate of Family Policy and Diversity) along with 11 social bodies working in areas related to migration, support of the Roma population and LGTBI groups. The mission of the network is to ensure equal treatment and non-discrimination in public policies and civil society in the Basque Autonomous Community.

Eraberean advises and supports all individuals or groups that are affected by or are aware of instances of discrimination. The network operates out of three different cities in collaboration with civil society organisations, which make up the local branches that detect cases of discrimination.

Areas of integration covered by practice

Fighting discrimination and promoting diversity

Background and purpose

The network addresses discrimination and hate crimes based on race, ethnicity, nationality, sexual orientation or identity and gender identity. It promotes the principle of equal treatment and non-discrimination in public policies and civil society in the region.

Timeframe

The Eraberean Network began work in early 2015 and has been operating without interruption since then.

How does it work?

The Eraberean Network works in two areas:

Prevention, Training and Awareness

The network implements programmes and awareness-raising initiatives, provides training, creates informational materials, advises institutions and social organisations and performs other activities that promote awareness of and capacity to act against discrimination and hate crime.

This work is carried out through two working committees comprised of representatives of the branches of the Network and staff from the management team of the Department of Employment and Social Policies and its relevant services for (Biltzen and Berdindu!).

• Information and Documentation Committee
• Training and Awareness Committee

Response, Advice and Support

The network has put in place a protocol in the local branches to deal with cases of discrimination. These branches provide direct response to victims. There is also a Response, Advice and Support Committee, whose role is to manage the technical and legal aspects of response and advice regarding discriminatory acts.

The service provided by the branches is more than just a tool for managing complaints. The branches provide a specialist response which entails, among other things:

• carrying out necessary enquiries to establish the circumstances in which the discriminatory act occurred
• completing a form for each discriminatory act dealt with
• when appropriate, directing advice-seekers towards available public resources
• conflict resolution through mediation
• direction towards the courts in cases considered to be of strategic importance

Results and evaluation

The work carried out by the network is set out annually in an activity report. The report details awareness-raising activities, training and documentation provided by the network throughout the year. The report also states the number of cases dealt with by the network during the year, together with analysis of relevant data and a description of certain cases. The report features relevant articles and interviews with individuals who have been helped by the network.

The network and lawyers from its branches have achieved positive outcomes in cases that have gone to court, including having hate-based motivations recognised as an aggravating factor in crimes committed. The annual reports set out these cases in detail.

Funding

The Eraberean Network's funding comes from a grant by the Basque Government in the amount of € 80,000 per year. One of the bodies forming the network receives the full amount and acts as the management body, further distributing the grant among the other bodies.

Further information

Website of the practice (Spanish)

Website of the practice (Basque)