Andorra Urged to Tackle Racism, LGBTI-Phobia, and Broaden Voting Rights
ECRI Recommends a National Strategy to Address Discrimination
In its latest report, the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) has advised Andorra to create a comprehensive national strategy to combat racism and discrimination against LGBTI individuals. A key recommendation calls for granting voting rights to non-citizens living in the country, in alignment with the Council of Europe’s Convention on the Participation of Foreigners in Public Life at Local Level.
Recent Progress in Legal Reforms and LGBTI Rights
Since ECRI’s previous assessment in 2016, Andorra has achieved notable advancements. The 2019 revision of the Law on the Rights of Children and Adolescents now offers protection against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Furthermore, in 2022, Andorra introduced a National Plan for Children and Adolescents and launched an anti-bullying initiative in schools. Educational programs promoting human rights and inclusivity are also integrated into the school curriculum.
Andorra has taken significant steps toward equality for LGBTI individuals. As of January 2023, same-sex couples have been granted equal rights to civil marriage as opposite-sex couples. The country has also provided full public funding for gender-affirming healthcare since 2022, and transgender individuals can change their gender on official documents without requiring medical interventions.
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Concerns and Recommendations for Further Action
Despite the progress, ECRI identifies several ongoing issues. While the mandate of Andorra’s Ombudsperson, known as the Radonador del Ciutadà, was expanded in 2017 to include cases of racial discrimination, ECRI emphasizes the need to enhance its authority and resources.
Specific concerns remain for transgender individuals, who are still required to obtain a psychiatric diagnosis to access gender-affirming healthcare. Additionally, the mandatory two-year wait and judicial process for changing names and gender markers pose challenges. ECRI recommends a simplified and more transparent administrative process for legal gender recognition.
Hate Speech and Workplace Discrimination
The report notes that while hate speech is not widespread in Andorra, there have been instances of online hate speech targeting migrants, Muslims, and LGBTI people. ECRI urges Andorran authorities to increase their efforts in monitoring and addressing online hate speech. Authorities should also ensure that motivations linked to racism and LGBTI-phobia are fully considered in legal cases, and establish a system for comprehensive data collection on hate speech and hate crimes.
ECRI further highlights issues faced by Latin American workers in the construction industry, who have reported experiencing abusive practices. The commission calls for sufficient resources to be allocated to the labour inspectorate to effectively tackle racial discrimination, particularly within sectors like tourism, construction, and public works.
By addressing these challenges, Andorra can strengthen its commitment to human rights, equality, and inclusion across all areas of society.
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