The Government of Catalonia has sent letters to all the municipalities of the region to modify their municipal ordinances and put an end to the prohibition of toples in municipal swimming pools.
This initiative is based on a Catalan law that prohibits any discriminatory act in the region and warns that ordinances that prevent toples can be considered a form of discrimination.
In the event of non-compliance and complaints from women, the Govern has the power to impose penalties of up to half a million euros.
For years, dozens of women have complained that they have been banned from toplessness in municipal swimming pools and, in some cases, have even been expelled from the facilities.
This situation has led to the creation of the platform Mugrons Lliures, which has received complaints from approximately twenty women each year and has fought for gender equality in this area.
The Govern’s letter puts an end to these rights violations and ensures that toplessness should be allowed in municipal swimming pools.
But the letter goes beyond the toples issue. It also guarantees the right of women to breastfeed in public swimming pools.
Nor can swimsuits that cover more parts of the body, such as the burkini or other garments designed to protect from the sun in the water, be banned.
The only rule that should be imposed, according to the charter, is that swimwear should be suitable for aquatic activity, ensuring personal hygiene and public health and covering the person’s genitals.
In addition, the letter stresses that swimming pools cannot be denied entry on ethnic or racial grounds and makes special mention of young migrants and Roma families.
End of the ban on topless in public swimming pools
Failure to comply with these recommendations may lead to the imposition of sanctions by the Govern.
The Catalan Equal Treatment Act, through the Office against Non-Discrimination, is responsible for applying these regulations and enforcing the corresponding sanctioning regulations.
The office has already received complaints about this situation and encourages women to report any violation of their rights.
Fines for non-compliance with the law can range from 300 to 500,000 euros, depending on the seriousness of the facts.
Although the letter was sent on March 22, it is only now that the Mugrons Lliures platform has made this action known after receiving the notification from the ‘conselleria’.
The platform urges all women to print the letter and show it if they are banned from toplessness in swimming pools. From now on, they cannot be banned.
