Statement of the United Nations Special Rapporteur on minority issues, Fernand de Varennes, on the conclusion of his official visit to Spain, 14-25 January 2019
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The enormous strides made by Spain in the field of human rights since it transited to a democracy in the period of 1977-78 are not always fully appreciated or sufficiently acknowledged. Spain’s 40 years of democracy has led to a modern and dynamic state fully engaged in European and international institutions, with an effective government, an independent judiciary, and forms of autonomy that in part respond to the reality of a state with a very rich and historical diversity. Spain is thus not a federation, but a highly decentralized unitary state. The country’s 17 Autonomous communities have however greatly contributed to the more effective political participation of the country’s largest minorities such as the Basque, Catalan, Galicians, and others, as well as provided means of recognizing and implementing their rights in areas such as language and culture. This has also been a defining development in the country’s path to a democracy that is more inclusive and embraces its historical diversity and the reality of its rich tapestry of languages, cultures and religions.