Does spain (Majorca) have any anti-discrimination laws for disabled people?

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BarcelonaMan

We wish we knew specifically how you were discriminated against so we could lend more specific comments.

Spain is pretty notorious when it comes to anti-discrimination issues. These include openly discriminating against someone for their sex, age, religion, ethnicity, and on and on.

I wouldn't be surprised if there were also no anti-discrimination laws - although there are ordinances - in place to provide for people with mobility or disability issues. Violating such ordinances is pretty common due to the nature and age of old buildings (or streets or neighborhoods) which cannot be modified to completely accommodate disabled people.

There are also laws in Spain which SERIOUSLY limits liability for being prosecuted for violating almost any non-violent laws. If you were to prosecute and win you might get a few hundred Euros. I'm just guessing here but it's nothing like in the USA or other similar litigation-crazed nations where you can win millions of dollars/Euros/British Pounds.

Best of luck!

Saludos, BarcelonaMan(.com)

wet26

What is your disability? Assuming you have a physical disability, on what grounds were you discriminated against and by whom? At present, you will have legal recourse only if you were discriminated against in regard to employment.

For example, if you were refused entry to a premises, this may have been because the premises did not have disabled access or the facilities to cater for someone with your disability, not because they were discriminating against you. In addition, the right of refusal of entry is reserved by management and this applies to everyone.

Legislation has been proposed however, this article may be of interest to you:

http://www.1million4disability.eu/news_detail.asp?pk_id_news=28&langue=EN

EDIT-- have just seen your added info. You do not have grounds to sue for discrimination, but write a letter to the companies involved, especially if they are located in the UK. Explain the circumstances and how you were treated and seek a refund. Be sure to provide specific details, times, dates etc. Send your letters by recorded delivery and continue to send them until you receive a response. The amount of money you could potentially receive in refund would be eaten up by legal fees (drafting correspondence and a few phone calls would cost you hundreds of pounds), so best leave the solicitors out of this one.

If you write your letter rationally and concisely you will be more likely taken seriously.

dunrobin46

Legal action against who in particular?

You must be very wealthy if you can afford legal fees to take legal actions abroad. Good luck.

Javi S

I'm sure there are anti-discrimination laws for disabled pple but that doesn't necesseraly mean that someone is enforced to apply this rules and facilities for disabled pple. I'm really sorry, but this is how it works here in Spain. They make the law just to say that we have the European standards but then there is no enforcement.

About sueing them, you are not gonna get anything out of it. You'll have to pay a lot of money for a lawyer and in the best of the cases you will only get a compensation that will allow you to pay for the costs of the process. It will take like 2 or 3 years before you get a resolution of the case because Spanish justice is so incompetent. Unfortunately, this is how justice works down here.

best of luck and I'm so sorry that you have this bad experience here in Spain

rose1

Sorry to hear about your problems whilst on holiday in Majorca. However, if I were you I would have complained to my rep whilst in the resort. You can write to your travel company who you booked your holiday with but doubt if you will get anywhere. As for your added comments can I ask you some questions:
Why did you not consult someone whilst you were there?
Did you not tell your rep? or ask their advice as they are working in the resort and would know where you could "denounce" the marine park etc.
There is a procedure called a "denuncia" where you go to the police to make an official complaint (although they probalby would not see this as a serious enough problem) sorry
What you could have done, is ask at the place in question namely the marine park for a thing called "hojas de reclamaciones" a form whereby you could make a written complaint. This is a book that every business in Spain has to have on their premises, they cannot refuse to give it to you. You write your complaint and this has to get looked into officially. I'm sorry it's too late to do anything now.
I think you were very unlucky, here in Benidorm I went with my grand daughter to Mundomar and we went to see the Pirate show, disabled people with wheelchairs were given priority place with the best views in the front (and actually obstructing our view a little aswell) and given priority leaving afterwards too so that they had plenty of room to move.
So you should say where you went and where everyone should avoid if they go to Majorca, that will do their publicity the world of good!! So name and shame

boatno52

i agree with rose 1 , but are you asking a genuine question, or are you taking the p++s, i have a serious disability not wheelchair bound but do walk with two sticks, albeit not very well,please understand that being disabled doesn't give you special rights,which i have been embarrassed on numerous occasion's by disabled people jumping the queue feeling they have special rights over able bodied people , why be grumpy be nice you have a disability you cant change it , be involved with life don't feel sorry for yourself, i have found the spanish people very accommodating,they go out of there way to help you. in your question you say you THINK it is an english based company, you either THINK or you know , i do apologise if i have upset you with this reply , i am a genuine person ,if you would like to communicate we could through this column if you are genuine you will, i do hope i havent caused any offence

Captain Sarcasm

The Spanish legal system is notorious for delays and expense. Think very carefully before going down this route.

sam c

dont know

biswox

I think there are laws. Ask a lawyer, but I think you can take legal action and win the case.

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