Human Rights Watch is accusing the Spanish government of abusing unaccompanied migrant children in its detention facilities on the Canary Islands. In its report (“Spain's Failure to Protect the Rights of Unaccompanied Migrant Children in the Canary Islands”) issued on July 26, the organization heavily criticizes the treatment of these minors while in camps on the islands off the coast of Spain. Interviews with the children revealed that they had been subjected to beatings by staff, and left unprotected from violence by their peers. German news magazine, Der Spiegel, is reporting that a number of these children have also been sexually abused during their time in the camps.
"These children should be protected by the Spanish authorities, not left to suffer beatings and abuse," said Simone Troller, Europe children's rights researcher for Human Rights Watch. "The Canary Islands government should close these centers and arrange better care for the children."
The International Herald Tribune quotes a number of the children in its article:
“Children interviewed at La Esperanza talked of a punishment cell, a windowless room with no toilet, where they were beaten and locked up for days at a time and forced to urinate and defecate on the floor, the report said.
Jean-Marie N., a 17-year-old interned boy, described an incident when a youngster “got into trouble with educators” and was taken to the showers and beaten.
“There was blood on the boy's mouth and his clothes were full of blood – his shirt could not be used anymore,” he said.”
According to Der Spiegel, Spain's Minister of Social Affairs, Inés Rojas, has promised to follow up on the allegations and will personally inspect the camps over the next few days.
Autorities on the Canary Islands have created a total of four camps to house up to 500 children. After Spain stepped up its collaboration with other EU member states and the Union's border patrol FRONTEX a total of 4700 migrants have arrived on the islands’ shore. Last week another migrant vessel capsized 180km off the coast of Spain, killing 50.
More articles on this story:
New York Times: In Spanish Centers for Migrant Youth, Reports of Squalor
The Independent (UK) : Spain accused of keeping migrant children in ‘punishment’ cells
ABConline (Australia): Spain called on to close Canary Its migration camps
