A recent ombudsman report scrutinizes the case file around a 17-year-old resident at the Oikia welcome center in Girona, highlighting deeply troubling concerns. The document notes that the young person confessed to sexual incidents involving his sister, who is four years old, and a cousin who is seven, raising questions about the center’s handling of vulnerable youth and the safeguards in place for nearby family members. The report, published by a local outlet, references a recommendation from the Ombudsman’s Childhood Zone for initiating an ex officio lawsuit to review the treatment and supervision of the minor during his stay. The public version of the report does not disclose further specifics about the incident, leaving many details undisclosed to the public and stakeholders.
The Girona facility, situated in the Puig d’en Roca area, has a capacity described as around 40 places and is tasked with welcoming minors with varied backgrounds. During the Ombudsman’s inspection, one of the cases encountered related to the sexual abuse allegations involving this minor, which is included as part of the preparation for the annual Catalan Torture Prevention Mechanism report. This finding underscores the ongoing vigilance of oversight bodies in monitoring centers that care for young people and the broader implications for child protection policies.
The ombudsman’s report also outlines four additional ex officio measures proposed to the center managed by Fundació Resilis. Among these is a specific call to address the case of unaccompanied foreign minors (menas), including overcoming bureaucratic hurdles such as obtaining identification numbers from National Police offices. Another line of action targets administrative barriers affecting the orthodontic care of a young person and the ability of families to open checking accounts for their children, which can impact access to essential financial services and ongoing healthcare. These recommendations reflect a broader concern with ensuring consistent access to basic services for vulnerable youths within the center.
Further proposals urge ex officio intervention to resolve what the report characterizes as bureaucratic “impossibilities” faced by local football clubs in the region when processing federation documents for young people who lack the required paperwork. The aim is to streamline administrative procedures so that youths can participate in organized sports and related development programs without being hampered by documentation gaps. This issue highlights how administrative friction can indirectly affect a young person’s wellbeing and opportunities for social integration.
Apart from these ex officio directives, the document offers recommendations aimed at improving the Girona center’s overall operation. A prominent suggestion is to secure the right of residents to communicate with their families and external parties; this includes access to mobile phones and other communication means within the center. During the visit, multiple teenagers expressed distress over restricted communication during the week, describing feelings of pain and sadness connected to isolation from loved ones. The report notes that allowing more robust communication channels could help alleviate emotional strain and support healthier family ties during a period of confinement at the facility.
In addition, the ombudsman proposes a review of the center’s food provisions to assess both quality and quantity. While some youths reported improvements in nourishment, the recommendation signals that consistent, nutritious meals remain a priority for the institution’s standard of care. Taken together, these measures reflect a comprehensive approach to safeguarding, education, and daily life at the Girona center, aiming to create a safer, more transparent environment for minors in care.