The 028 Rainbow number, a telephone service to advise and assist people from the LGTBI community, began operating this Tuesday in the Canary Islands, after its entry into operation in the rest of the country last July.
This telephone service, which is free of charge, attends to reports of hate crimes as well as offering legal and psychological care and advice to LGTBI people 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, according to the Ministry of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Childhood and Families in a statement.
“Many people because of their LGTBI status feel rejected or attacked in their environment and do not know where to turn. For this, the Canary Islands has the 028 Rainbow, a specific information and care telephone service in which victims of hate crimes can find a refuge and a friendly voice”, says the general director of Diversity of the Government of the Canary Islands, Celso David Mendoza.
The telephone service that was launched in July throughout the country extends its service in the Canary Islands from this Tuesday after the publication in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands (BOC) of the collaboration agreement between the Secretary of State for Equality and against Gender Violence of the Ministry of Equality and the Ministry of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Childhood and Families, which will allow for detailed statistical data for the Canary Islands as well as monitoring of the service in the islands.
“Sexual orientation and gender identity are the second cause of complaints for hate crimes in Spain and, even so, many attacks go unpunished". Keep in mind that hate crimes "have increased by 20% in just two years in Spain”, emphasizes Mendoza.
“Sexual orientation and gender identity are the second cause of complaints for hate crimes in Spain"
"Loneliness, the absence of a support network or simply the shame" that they sometimes feel to express themselves are the main allies to "sink a person when they are feeling threatened or insulted because of their LGTBI status", explains the general director, who recalls that through this service “a voice on the other end of the phone will provide tranquility, listen and offer support as well as legal and psychological advice to people who need it”.
After the call, the 028 user is referred to the services or organizations of the autonomous community to be attended to in the most appropriate way. And in case you need urgent and emergency care, you will be immediately referred to the 112 emergency telephone number in the Canary Islands.
In addition to calls for hate crimes, the 028 Rainbow Service attends calls from minors and adolescents at risk of rejection due to their sexual orientation as well as people who witness any situation of harassment, discrimination and LGTBIphobic violence.
The service includes an internet chat and an email address of the 028 service for people who need it. This telephone service came into force on July 5 throughout the country and the number chosen refers to the International LGTBI Pride Day.
