The Spanish Ombudsman reports inadequate protection against sexual violence in child care centers

• The Spanish Ombudsman has warned that public administrations are failing to detect and prevent sexual violence against minors within the state protection system.
• Most responsible administrations lack quality data and specialized professional training, leaving vulnerable children at risk.
• Many minors entering state care have already suffered prior sexual abuse, which significantly increases their vulnerability while under institutional supervision.

Key Findings and Systemic Issues

• Authorities lack comprehensive, statistically treated information on sexual abuse and exploitation occurring within protection centers.
• Life in these centers is under stress due to the placement of minors with mental health conditions or severe intellectual disabilities in facilities not designed for their specific needs, often violating existing legislation.
• High staff turnover, poor working conditions, and the absence of specialized direction contribute to delayed detection and intervention.
• In some instances, minors in the protection system are being housed alongside juvenile offenders, further complicating the environment.

Recommendations and Proposed Actions

• Administrations must expand staff training to include detection, intervention, and accompaniment, and implement dedicated technicians for sexual violence.
• Centers should adopt educational programs regarding healthy affective-sexual development and social media safety.
• Public entities are urged to create a comprehensive review plan to differentiate residential resources, ensuring clear distinctions between general reception centers, therapeutic centers, and specialized behavior facilities.
• Governments should finalize the Unified Social Services Registry for Child Violence and the Central Registry for Information on Violence against Children and Adolescents.
• Each autonomous community should enact regulations defining minimum requirements for center organization, staffing, and protocols.
• The Ombudsman recommends expanding specialized judicial instances for child victims of sexual violence to prevent re-victimization and insists on the inclusion of children's rights to participation in the development of future protection protocols.