Andorra Sees Surge in Workplace Discrimination Cases Amid Rising Awareness

Andorra's Equality Service handled 15 workplace discrimination and harassment cases in 2025, up from 14 the previous year and a fivefold increase since 2019, when the Law for Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination came into force.

The State Secretariat for Equality attributes the rise to greater awareness of inequalities and growing trust in the service as a key resource. Of these, 14 were new complaints, with one carried over from 2024. Gender-based harassment against women dominated, including four cases of sex-based harassment and three of sexual harassment, underscoring ongoing structural machismo in workplaces. Companies are required to implement equality plans, though the Women's Institute noted last year that only 60% had complied.

Three cases involved discrimination against gay and trans individuals, alongside two requests for LGTBIQ+ advice, highlighting persistent vulnerabilities and information gaps in the community. The remaining three addressed varied issues needing flexible responses.

Most cases originated directly from victims, reflecting better service visibility and access. Referrals included two from police and two from government bodies, emphasizing the need for stronger inter-agency coordination.

The team—a social educator, psychologist, and occasional lawyer—provides counseling, mediation, psychological support, and legal advice, focusing on vulnerable groups such as women, LGTBIQ+ people, children and youth, elderly residents, immigrants, and those with disabilities. Last year featured awareness campaigns, including workplace posters on detecting and reporting gender and sexual harassment, with contact details for the Equality Service, Labour Inspectorate, and police. A protocol was also developed for general and diplomatic administration staff.

Related initiatives include the Equality Observatory to track living conditions, needs, and aspirations of various groups, plus a planned 2026 survey on women's status in Andorra. The annual report calls for more funding and staff to meet demand.

Meanwhile, the gender violence victim service managed 359 cases in 2025—172 new, 95 ongoing, and 92 returns—with psychological abuse in every instance, alongside common physical, social, or environmental harm. Some 117 women received specialized psychological support, a rise from prior years signaling increased need, though 64% filed no police reports, often citing fear, emotional or financial dependence, or system distrust.

Challenges intensified: staffing shortages limited responses, with no in-house lawyer, requiring external aid for civil and criminal cases. The non-violent relationships programme for men, aimed at prevention, lost a psychologist and now relies on one technician, curtailing personalized work. Resistance to training persisted in some departments, alongside protocol failures risking secondary victimization. The 309 minor children of affected women require dedicated psychological and educational aid to prevent cycle repetition.

Social support included 62 grants totaling €63,909.72 for essentials, extracurriculars, and recovery. All five shelter flats were fully used, accommodating 13 families—four more than in 2024, with each flat able to house two families simultaneously. Maintenance issues like breakdowns, missing items, and dampness proved hard to resolve despite outreach to government maintenance or landlords. Access criteria were tightened to prioritize gender violence cases over general housing needs, requiring mental health stability for shared living, though housing shortages sometimes led to exceptions. Officials highlight the need for a dedicated coordinator.

One human trafficking case emerged, requiring specialized coordination. Authorities urge team expansion, more specialists, and enhanced training to ensure effective care and prevention.