ESP 001 / 0214 / OBS 017

Attack

Spain

February 28, 2014

TheObservatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders, a joint programme ofthe International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and the World OrganisationAgainst Torture (OMCT), requests your urgent intervention in the followingsituation in Spain.

Descriptionof the situation:

TheObservatory has been informed about the attack of the headquarters of “SOSRacismo Madrid”, a human rights organisation which fights against racism andxenophobia since 1992.

Accordingto the information received, on February 21, 2014 at around 5 a.m., a group ofsupporters of the extreme right-wing party “Democracia Nacional” (DN) attackedthe premises of SOS Racismo Madrid, in the Lavapiés district of the Spanishcapital.

Members ofDN placed a large banner with hung puppets on the front of the building,containing xenophobic catchwords such as “Stop the invasion!” and blaming thehuman rights organisation for its “anti-spanish” activities of “denouncingthose who protect [spanish] borders”. They also threw firecrackers into theoffices of SOS Racismo, attracting the attention of the neighbours who calledthe police.

Thenationalist party openly claimed having initiated this action, placed its logoon the banners that were hung on the facade of SOS Racismo Madrid, and postedpictures of the action on its public Facebook page.

DN furtherdecided to organise a protest on March 8, 2014 in the same neighbourhood ofLavapiés, with the slogan “Stop the invasion! We have to protect our borders”.

SOSRacismo has strongly denounced this attack as an unacceptable threat againstits human rights activities and filed a complaint against the DN, which led tothe opening of an investigation by the police. In addition, representatives ofSOS Racismo requested an interview with the Prosecutor specialised in hatecrimes and discrimination.

The Observatory firmly condemns this attackagainst the headquarters of SOS Racismo, which represents a clear threatagainst the human rights activities of the NGO, and more generally aninfringement against freedom of expression and the fight against racism andxenophobia in Spain.

Actionsrequested:

Pleasewrite to the Spanish authorities, urging them to:

i. Take all necessary measures toguarantee in all circumstances the protection of the human rights organisationSOS Racismo Madrid, its members and all human rights defenders in Spain, fromany attack or threat;

ii. Conduct a proper, thorough, and timelyinvestigation about the attack committed against the headquarters of SOSRacismo Madrid in order to identify all those responsible and sanction themaccording to law;

iii. React promptly to all racistand xenophobic actions undertaken by extremists movements and their supportersin Spain;

iv. Take all necessary measures to protect allhuman rights defenders in Spain from any kind of harassment, and ensure in all circumstances that theyare able to carry out their work without unjustified hindrances;

v. More generally, conform with theprovisions of the UN Declaration on Human Rights Defenders, adopted by theGeneral Assembly of the United Nations on December 9, 1998, especially:

- itsArticle 1, which states that “everyone has the right, individually and inassociation with others, to promote and to strive for the protection andrealization of human rights and fundamental freedoms at the national andinternational levels”,

- and itsArticle 12.2, which provides that “the State shall take all necessary measuresto ensure the protection by the competent authorities of everyone, individuallyand in association with others, against any violence, threats, retaliation, defacto or de jure adverse discrimination, pressure or any other arbitrary actionas a consequence of his or her legitimate exercise of the rights referred to inthe present Declaration”;

vi. Ensure in all circumstancesrespect for human rights and fundamental freedoms in accordance withinternational human rights standards and international instruments ratified bySpain.

Addresses:

• Head of the Royal House, Mr. Rafael SPOTTORNO DIAZ-CARCasa de su Majestad el Rey, Palacio de La Zarzuela, Carretera del Pardos/n, 28071 Madrid, España, Tel: +34 91 599 24 24
• President of the Government, Mr. Mariano RAJOY BREY,Complejo de la Moncloa, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, s/n. 28071 Madrid, España
• First Vice-President, Minister of the Presidency andSpokeman of the Government, Mme Soraya SAENZ de SANTAMARIA, Complejode la Moncloa, Avda. Puerta de Hierro, s/n. 28071 Madrid, España
• Minister of Interior, Mr. Jorge Fernández DIAZ,Calle Amador de los Ríos, 7, 28010 Madrid, España: Tel: +34 060
• Minister of Justice, M. Alberto RUIZ-GALLARDO, SanBernardo, 45, 28071 Madrid, España, Tel: + 34 902 007 214/+34 91 837 22 9
• Minister of Foreign Affairs and of Cooperation,Mr. José Manuel GARCIA MARGALLO, Sede Palacio de SantaCruz, Plaza de la Provincia, 1, 28012 Madrid, España, Tel: + 34 91 379 9700

Pleasealso write to the diplomatic mission or embassy of Spain in your respectivecountry.

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Paris-Geneva,February 28, 2014

Kindlyinform us of any action undertaken quoting the code of this appeal in yourreply.

To contactthe Observatory, call the emergency line:

· E-mail: Appeals@fidh-omct.org

· Tel and fax FIDH + 33 (0)1 43 55 25 18 / +33 1 43 55 18 80

· Tel and fax OMCT + 41 (0) 22 809 49 39 / + 41 22 809 49 29