- The harassment campaign has already been denounced as a possible hate crime.
- The delegate held a meeting with project leaders and councilors from the municipal socialist group, who tabled a motion denouncing the situation.
The delegate of the Government of Spain to the Community of Madrid, Francisco Martín Aguirre, described as “unacceptable” what he considers a campaign of harassment against vulnerable minors seeking international protection who reside in a shelter of the Nuevo Hogar Betania project in Pinto.
In the meeting that he held today with the entity that manages this center, the Betania association, he has been able to know at first hand the consequences that on these minors have had the appearance of graffiti, publications on social networks and the demonstrations made from the City of Pinto against their presence in the locality. The government delegate has requested the cessation of all these actions and has explained that they have already been transferred to the State Security Forces and Bodies and the Office of the Public Prosecutor for Hate. “In the face of racism, you don’t have to give half a truce,” he said.
At the same time, it has reaffirmed its support and that of the Government of Spain to all the social entities that work together in the search for solutions for the integration of these minors, and has requested the Community of Madrid and the City of Pinto to assume the guardianship and protection powers that their respective administrations have, instead of “pointing out minors in such an extremely vulnerable situation”.
The NGO has participated in the meeting: Patricia Picabia, head of the Humanitarian Assistance and International Protection area in Madrid and the Madrid projects; and Bárbara Hiller and Estrella Romero, heads of the Betania Subdirectorate team. On the part of the PSOE of Pinto, those who have presented a motion denouncing this situation, have attended: Juan Diego Ortiz, former mayor, spokesperson of the Municipal Socialist Group and member of the Federal Committee; Antonia Soguero, Esther Fernández and Susana Morales, councilors of the City of Pinto.
About the Betania Association
The Betania Association manages several residential centers for people in situations of social exclusion, among them, one that serves vulnerable minors, applicants for international protection, in Pinto.
The association defends an integral and personalized approach focused on dignity and human rights.
In addition, it is one of the entities authorized to participate in the process of extraordinary regularization of migrants.