The Unrepresented Peoples and Nations Organization (UNPO), the Assemblea Nacional Catalana (ANC) and Geneva for Human Rights (GDH) , have submitted an alternative report to the Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) concerning the situation of the Catalan People in Spain. The submission, filed ahead of the Committee’s review of Spain during its 118th Session in August 2026, outlines concerns that Catalans face a systemic pattern of discrimination affecting their cultural, civil, and political rights, and calls on CERD to assess Spain’s compliance with its obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
The Report identifies key areas of concern for the Catalan Peoples, including: linguistic discrimination; the normalisation of hate speech targeting Catalans; institutional discrimination through selective prosecutions and inconsistent application of the 2024 Amnesty Law; restrictions on political participation and civil society; unlawful targeting of Catalans residents through surveillance and espionage; and persistent economic discrimination and unequal public infrastructure. Taken together, these interrelated issues demonstrate a pattern of structural discrimination that erodes the Catalan community’s capacity to preserve its identity, engage in democratic processes, and enjoy equal treatment under the law. Particular concern is expressed over the lack of meaningful engagement by the Spanish State with international human rights mechanisms, as the omission of the Catalan situation from Spain’s reporting processes, coupled with limited implementation of prior recommendations, reflects a broader pattern of non-engagement and raises questions regarding Spain’s willingness to fully comply with its international obligations.
On the applicability of CERD to the Catalan case, UNPO recalls that Article 1(1) ICERD refers to “any distinction, exclusion, restriction or preference based on race, colour, descent, or national or ethnic origin which has the purpose or effect of nullifying or impairing the recognition, enjoyment or exercise, on an equal footing, of human rights[…]” While Spain has historically argued that Catalans fall outside the scope of the Convention by categorizing them merely as a “regional culture” and focusing exclusively on a narrow, biological definition of “race,” the UNPO emphasizes that the Catalans constitute a distinct group characterised by a shared language, historical continuity, and cultural identity. This gives rise to an enduring national identity that aligns with the protected grounds under Article 1(1) of the Convention. Furthermore, as affirmed in General Recommendation No. 8, the identification of a protected group should be based on self-identification rather than State recognition.
Drawing on findings from UN Special Procedures, treaty bodies, Council of Europe mechanisms, judicial decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, and independent investigations by organizations such as Amnesty International and Citizen Lab, the submission demonstrates that these issues form a holistic pattern of structural discrimination. Taken together, they erode the Catalan community’s ability to preserve its language and culture, participate fully in democratic life, and enjoy equality before the law.
With its partner organisations, the UNPO calls on CERD to urge Spain to adopt immediate, concrete, and structural reforms to ensure full compliance with ICERD. This includes safeguarding linguistic rights and promoting inclusive education and social cohesion to foster respect for diversity; ending the misuse of criminal legislation and reforming the Penal Code and related laws to this end; ensuring the consistent and impartial application of the 2024 Amnesty Law; addressing hate speech and discriminatory practices; and addressing structural economic discrimination and unequal public infrastructure impacting Catalan residents. The UNPO and its partner organisations further calls for CERD to encourage Spain to engage in meaningful dialogue with Catalan institutions and civil society to address systemic discrimination and ensure compliance with ICERD.
