Author
In the Spanish reception system, efforts are made to place asylum seekers in the reception place which best fits their profile and needs depending on their age, sex, household, nationality, existence of family networks, maintenance, etc.[1] A case by case assessment is made between OAR and the relevant NGO in charge of the reception centres and, after assessing the availability of reception spaces and the individual characteristics of the applicant, the person is placed in the centre which best meets their needs. As asylum seekers’ placement is made on case-by-case basis, there is an ongoing monitoring mechanism which takes into consideration the response to reception needs of each person concerning the mentioned profiles.[2]
In addition, based on vulnerability factors referred to under the Asylum Law, most vulnerable profiles are entitled to a longer stay in reception facilities compared to the normal 18-month period. For vulnerable groups, reception can reach a total of 24 months, following an exceptional authorisation from the competent authority.[3]
Nonetheless, available resources are not allocated with a view to provide for the specific needs of more vulnerable asylum applicants, who are referred to external and more specialised services in case of need. The Spanish reception system in fact does not guarantee specialised reception places addressed to asylum applicants such as victims of trafficking, victims of torture, unaccompanied asylum-seeking children or persons with mental disorders. As mentioned in
Health care, some NGOs offer receptions facilities and services for asylum seekers with health mental problems. In addition, some NGOs have specific places in their reception facilities specifically addressed to trafficked women. These NGOs can also provide tailored services targeting specific vulnerable groups (i.e. trafficked persons, asylum seekers with mental health needs), to facilitate their access to education, labour market and healthcare.
Reception places for asylum-seeking victims of trafficking are very few, and their number is not made public by the MISSM. The new Regulation on Reception specifically includes the prevention, detection and referral of victims of trafficking as one of the main principles governing any action within the reception system, and it also considers trafficking as a situation of vulnerability.
The Spanish reception system’s lack of focus on vulnerability has been criticised by several organisations in recent years. The Spanish Ombudsperson expressed its concerns regarding the serious deficiencies in the humanitarian assistance programmes for migrants.[4] In its 2023 Annual Report, the Ombudsperson continued to reiterate the concerns regarding the deficiencies of the asylum reception system and its impossibility in assuring places for all those who need it.[5]
In February 2022 the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration, together with UNHCR, started the implementation of an action protocol on gender-based violence within the reception system, with the aim of improving the prevention, risks mitigation and response for gender-based cases, in line with international and EU laws.[6] A leaflet explaining the protocol has been also published in different languages (i.e. Spanish, English, French, Arabic, Ukrainian),[7] together with a pocket guide for the professionals working in the asylum reception system.[8]
In November 2024, the Minister of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration announced that a total of 772 offices of the Social Security started to function as ‘Purple Points’ (Puntos Violeta) for the assistance to victims of gender-based violence.[9]
UNHCR supported the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migrations (MISSM) and NGOs managing reception centres for refugees and asylum seekers in the implementation of national standard operating procedures to prevent and respond to gender-based violence in the reception system, enhancing the reception personnel capacity to adequately detect, refer, and intervene in GBV cases with a survival-centre approach. A few guidelines (data collection tool, pocket guide, a leaflet for professionals, and posters and leaflets for refugees, asylum seekers and stateless persons) were developed.[10]
In April 2023, the implementation of such a protocol was extended to the facilities for humanitarian assistance to migrants.[11]
UNHCR supported competent authorities in developing a protocol for the prevention of and response to violence against women in first-line reception centres for sea and land arrivals. The protocol was signed by the Secretary of State for Migration in November 2023. UNHCR facilitated a participatory process through a Gender-Based Violence Working Group involving competent authorities, the European Union Asylum Agency (EUAA), NGOs and reception centres in Ceuta and Melilla, ensuring that the protocol addresses the real needs of women and the challenges faced by personnel in this complex context. The protocol for the prevention of and response to GBV encompasses all forms of violence against women in accordance with the Istanbul Convention and applies to cases of violence against women in Spain, their country of origin, during their journey, and any foreseen risks of violence in a potential third country of destination. It includes a chapter on asylum as a key protection mechanism for women and 18 annexes, including a data collection tool and a guide to developing standard operating procedures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse. UNHCR created a pocket guide for its practical application by professionals and organised online interactive working sessions with over 200 GBV actors in Melilla, Ceuta, Cadiz, the Canary Islands, Malaga and Almería, reinforcing networking, capacity building and collaboration.[12]
Children and unaccompanied minors
There are no specialised resources for unaccompanied asylum seeking-children, and they are thus hosted in general centres for unaccompanied children or left destitute. In a report submitted to the Committee on the Rights of the Child in the occasion of the 7th cycle of assessment of the implementation of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Platform for Childhood (Plataforma de Infancia) underlined the necessity to create, especially in the Canary Islands, Andalucía, Ceuta and Melilla, appropriate reception centres to respond to migrant children’s international protection needs. It adds that such centres should provide for legal assistance, interpreters with proper training, and to foster quick referral to other facilities if in the best interest of the child[13] (See also Legal representation of unaccompanied children).
A report published in December 2023 by the Platform for Childhood highlighted the challenges faced by accompanied children in the asylum system.[14] In relation to reception conditions, the publication referred to the lack of a child perspective in the whole asylum reception system, and concretely, i.e., the lack of specialised lawyers and psychologists, the lack of specific activities and economic support for children, the lack of friendly specific and appropriate spaces for children in the reception facilities, etc.
In March 2025, the Supreme Court (Tribunal Supremo) issued a landmark ruling affirming that unaccompanied minors (UAMs) who apply for asylum are entitled to access and remain within the asylum reception system. This means they should not be placed in the general facilities for UAMs or in shelters for abandoned children. The case stemmed from the situation of approximately 1,000 UAMs who had applied for asylum in the Canary Islands. The ruling compelled the central government—responsible for the reception conditions of asylum applicants—to take responsibility for these minors and provide a solution within 10 days.[15]
As underlined by Save the Children, reports from different Autonomous Communities, including Andalucía, the Canary Islands, and Catalonia, highlighted frequent cases of overcrowding during 2024, lack of specialized staff, and concerns regarding the treatment of children in reception centers.[16] The main concerns refer to:
- Absence of standardized child protection protocols: Many centers lack a common framework for safeguarding children, and there is no independent complaints mechanism for minors.
- Allegations of mistreatment and inadequate conditions: Cases of verbal abuse and insufficient supervision have been reported, particularly in emergency reception centers.
- Lack of cultural and linguistic mediators: The shortage of trained professionals capable of understanding the specific needs of migrant children hampers their ability to communicate effectively and feel safe in these environments.
Following the call by different stakeholders including the Government of the Canary Islands and the Spanish Ombudsperson, the General Directorate for Children of the Ministry of Social Rights and the 2030 Agenda approved in 2022 a Management Model for migration contingencies for unaccompanied children and adolescents.[17] The model is aimed at providing a tailored response for migratory pressure on minors’ protection systems at border territories such as the Canary Islands, Ceuta, Melilla or Andalucía. For these situations, the model foresees the possibility to activate different Response Plans for Children and Adolescents, with the aim of referring and distributing children at national level. The beneficiaries of such measures are unaccompanied migrant children and adolescents, who have entered Spain through an Autonomous Community whose child protection system is overwhelmed and thus are unable to comply with the best interests of these minors at that time. Several stakeholders advocated for this “solidarity or responsibility sharing mechanism” for many years.[18] Following such a plan, the Government and the Autonomous Communities agreed to transfer 400 UAMs from Ceuta and the Canary Islands to reception facilities in mainland, due to the situation of overcrowding. In addition, other 374 UAMs will be transferred in 2023.[19] In November 2022, the Government of the Canary Islands increased the budget for assistance to UAMs of around EUR 1,4 million.[20]
In January 2024, Save the Children reported a 116.8% increase in the arrivals of UAMs to Spainin 2023 compared to the previous year. In addition, the organisation highlighted that changes occurred regarding the profile of the UAMs reaching Spain, notably as there were stronger vulnerability elements, i.e. very young boys and more girls.[21]
In a report published in February, UNICEF asked the Government to provide a quick and effective response to the needs of the 5,500 unaccompanied migrant children in the Canary Islands, as it did for the children displaced from Ukraine.[22]
In June, the UNHCR and the Government of the Canary Islands signed a protocol for the protection and assistance to UAMs in need of international protection.[23]
In August, UNICEF and the Government of the Canary Islands signed a protocol to guarantee the healthcare and social assistance to UAMs.[24]
In September, the Minister of Youth and Childhood announced the intention of adopting a strategic plan for the protection and assistance of UAMs.[25]
During the same month, the Government started to draft a contingency plan with the EU with the aim of easing the pressure on reception centres for UAMs in Ceuta and the Canary Islands.[26] In addition, the Council of Ministers approved a first budgt allocation of €35 million for the protection of and assistance to UAMs in Ceuta, Melilla and the Canary Islands in 2024, as well as for the transfer of UAMs from these regions to other Spanish Autonomous Communities.[27]
Some relevant steps towards the adoption of a State Pact on Child Poverty were taken during the fall of 2024, when the Ministry of Youths and Children met with different organisations (i.e. the Platform for Childhood, UNICEF, EAPN-ES, the Spanish Red Cross, etc.). To draft the Plan, an assessment on the situation of child poverty in Spain was carried out. The study indicated that migrant children, Roma children and children belonging to single parent families are the most affected by poverty.[28]
In October, the UNHCR and the regional Government of Andalucía signed a protocol for the identification and the assistance to UAMs in need of international protection.[29] A similar protocol was elaborated by UNHCR together with the Government of the Canary Islands.[30]
In October, UNICEF and the Andalucian School of Public Health (Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública – EASP) signed a collaboration agreement to foster access to menthal health support for children.[31]
Following a parliamentary request, the Government informed that from 2019 to the 30 September of 2024, a total of 20,332 UAM arrived in Spain.[32]
In occasion of the 2024 World Migrant Day, six migrants were interviewed to highlight the main fake news related to migrants that foster hate crimes and discrimination.[33]
The annual report published by Caminando Fronteras underlined an increase of UAMs in the main migratory routes to Spain in 2024. The organisation denounced that UAMs continued to face the lack of protection and guarantees from the authorities. In addition, it underlined that UAMs are treated as migrants rather than as children, so they are the target both of the political propaganda and of hate speeches. Particularly critical is, according to the organisation, the situation in the Canary Islands, where children who are not identified as such are accommodated in reception facilities together with adults.[34]
As detailed in previous updates of this report, another issue denounced relates to the separation of children from their parents. This was a practice of the Public Prosecutor following boat arrivals at Las Palmas de Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). Children were separated from their parents during many months in order carry out DNA tests, which was heavily criticised. During this time, children were hosted in centres for unaccompanied migrant children, while their parents were in centres for adults. In the case of one family, in January 2023 the High Court of Justice of the Canary Islands (Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Canarias) condemned the Canary Islands Government to pay a EUR 210,000 compensation for the moral suffering of the parents deriving from the separation from their three children during 14 months.[35]
In November 2022, the Government adopted the National Action Plan for the implementation of the European Child Guarantee for the period 2022-2030, which includes a set of measures addressing also refugee children, asylum seeking children and UAMs.[36]
In May 2023, the Council of Ministers adopted the National Strategy for the Rights of Childhood for the period 2023-2030, with the aim of fully guaranteeing such rights.[37] Among other things, the strategy foresees a set of measures to protect migrant children, including those in need of international protection.
Following the general elections in July 2023, the Ministry of Youth and Children was created.[38] It is hoped that this will strengthen the protection of children in Spain and to align policies and practices among the different Autonomous Communities. The Minister commented on the necessity to put in place a comprehensive plan for the assistance, protection and social inclusion of migrant children, including young adults who have been under the guardianship of the public authority.[39]
The situation of UAMs in the Canary Islands
The situation of unaccompanied children in the Canary Islands started to raise concerns since 2020, when more than 2,000 children were reportedly not receiving adequate assistance and protection.[40]
Due to the increase in arrivals to the Canary Islands in 2023, especially during the fall, many (presumed) UAMs arrived in the archipelago, including young children (i.e. less than 14 years old). This resulted in the UAMs’ protection system in the Canary Islands accommodating more than 4,400 UAMs in November 2023, and the accommodation of many UAMs in facilities for adults because they were not identified as minors. Following the challenges that arose because of the substantial increase, different organisations (i.e. the Platform for Childhood, UNICEF, and Save the Children) expressed concerns about the situation, and asked different institutions to take effective measures to guarantee children’s rights.[41] Similarly, Amnesty International denounced the situation in the archipelago and the lack of guarantees of UAMs’ rights, concretely the lack of information provision on their rights, including the right to asylum, the lack of age assessment procedures, the accommodation of presumed UAMs in centres for adults, the lack of legal assistance and appropriate interpretation, etc.[42] In October, all the Autonomous Communities reached an agreement to share the reception of 450 UAMs from the Canary islands. The Government of the archipelago assessed the agreement positively, but considered the number of UAMs to be transferred very low compared to the migratory situation it is facing.[43] As for February 2024, just four Autonomous Communities informed to be available for the transfer of a total of 112 children.[44]
During 2024, the Government of the Canary Islands reiterated its calls to the central Government to provide for the responsibility-sharing with the other Autonomous Communities in the reception of and assistance to UAMs arrived in the archipelago.[45] The Spanish Ombudsperson advocated for supporting the Canary Islands and called the Government to change the legislation in order to make the distribution of UAMs among Autonomous Communities compulsory.[46] Different Ministers met in April to discuss the issue, and the central Government called the Autonomous Communities to be involved in the reception of UAMs arrived to the Canary Islands.[47] The State-Secretary for Migration called for an agreement between the central Government and the Autonomous Communities for the distribution of 6,000 UAMs that cannot be assisted by the Canary Islands because the system is overwhelmed (its capacity if for 2,000 UAMs).[48] Similarly, UNHCR, Save the Children and the Spanish Ombudsperson called for the solidarity-sharing among the Autonomous Communities for the proper protection of UAMs. The Spanish Ombudsperson also urged the Government of the Canary Islands to open new facilities for the recpetion of UAMs.[49]
After months of negotiations, the central Government presented to the Government of the Canary Islands its plan for the distribution of 2,500 to UAMs to other Autonomous Communities. The Plan obtained an agreement between the two Governments and was also welcomed by NGOs.[50] Unfortunatey, the Plan prepared by the central Government for the compulsory distribution of UAMs from the Canary Islands to the other Autonomous Communities was not approved by the Congress in July, due to the contrary votes of the Popular Party, Vox and Junts.[51]
In March 2025, the Government finally approved the compulsory distribution of 4,400 UAMs from the Canary Islands to other Autonomous Communities. Different organisations (i.e. Accem, UNICEF, Platform for Childhood, etc.) welcomed the agreement and called for the necessity to guarantee high standards for reception and assistance to UAMs, in line with child’s rights.[52] The Autonomous Communities of Cantabria and the Balearic Islands expressed their intention to challenge and oppose the decree adopted for the distribution.[53] At the beginning of April, different Autonomous Communities (in practice, those governed by the Partido Popular) challenged the Royal Decree in front of the Constitutional Court.[54] Additionally, the High Court of Justice of Madrid (Tribunal Superior de Justicia de Madrid) deemed admissible the appeal lodged by the Autonomous Community of Aragón for challenging the requirement made by the Minister of Youth and Childhood to all Autonomous Communities to provide the figures on the number of reception places and its occupancy, with the aim of fixing the quota for each Autonomous Community for the distribution of UAMs coming from the Canary Islands.[55]
According to figures released by the Canary Islands, in one year – from the 1st of August 2023 to the 1st of August 2024 – 9,984 children arrived in the archipelago, being the 91% out of them (9,097) those who arrived unaccompanied.[56] The UNHCR estimated that the 55% of the UAMs arricing at the Canary Islands are in need of international protection.[57]
At the end of July, the Government of the Canary Islands adopted an emergency plan to assist UAMs, which foresees the allocation of €2 millon and to urgently hire 39 professionals.[58]
In September, the Government of the Canary Islands adopted a protocol for the reception of and assistance to UAMs arriving in the archipelago, by establishing a set of intervention and measure to put in place by all the competent institutions.[59] Nevertheless, the adoption of the protocol gave rise to criticisms, as it requires the identification of UAMs as an essential step for the administration of the archipelago to assume the guardianship and provide for the assistance of the children.[60] The Public Prosecutor Office lodged an appeal at the Supreme Court of the Canary Islands asking for the provision’s annulment.[61] The NGO Red Española de Inmigración y Ayuda al Refugiado lodged an appeal on the same grounds.[62] The Supreme Court of the Canary Islands suspended the protocol as a preacutionary measure.[63] Also, the Spanish Government appealed the protocol at the Constitutional Court.[64] In October, the Spanish Government proposed to the Government of the Canary Islands a new method for the distribution of UAMs among the Autonmous Communities, based on the number of the population in each region.[65] During the same month, the Public Prosecutor for Children at the Supreme Court called for more agility in the assistance to UAMs and in the interagency coordination, with the aim of providing a quick and smooth response to their protection needs.[66] The Council of the Government of the Canary Islands approved a request of €157 millon to the central Government, for the assistance provided to UAMs by the Canary Islands in previous years.[67]
At the end of November, the Minister of Youth and Childhood affirmed that the vast majority of UAMs arriving to the Canary Islands can be granted international protection. For this, she is working with EU institutions to tackle this issue and discuss options regarding their reception.[68]
In April 2024, an unaccompanied minor denounced the mistreatments received by the social workers in two reception facilities in the Canary Islands.[69]
In July, the Red Española de Inmigración y Ayuda al Refugiado lodged a complaint against the Directorate-General of Childhood of the Canary Islands for the bad conditions of a reception centre for UAMs in Lanzarote.[70]
In August, the municipality of Arucas (Canary Islands) called the Government of the archipelago to close the reception facility for UAMs located in the municipality, as it does not comply with the evacuation of wastewater and does not have the occupancy certificate.[71]
A report on the human rights violations occurred in the context of arrivals to the Canary Islands denounced the lack of adequate protections and rights’ guarantees that UAMs face in the archipelago, and recommended to create a better coordination mechanism among all actors involved in their protection and assistance. The publication also recommended to urgently adopt measures necessary to avoid that no UAM is accomododated in centre for adults, including in prisons.[72]
As underlined by Save the Children, the Canary Islands and, to a lesser extent, Ceuta continue to face continuous pressure due to increased arrivals of unaccompanied migrant children.[73] While a national contingency plan for the relocation of children from regions facing large numbers of arrivals to other autonomous communities has been partially implemented, key challenges persist:
- Insufficient resources in reception centers: Many newly established shelters struggle to meet basic standards, leading to overcrowding and inadequate living conditions. Some centers in the Canary Islands, for example, are hosting more than 300 children in a single facility, far exceeding legal and safety standards. Not providing the minimum conditions for a proper vulnerability assessment.
- Delays in access to education and vocational training: Due to administrative bottlenecks, children often face extended waiting periods before they can enroll in formal education or integration programs. In some cases, children over 16 are left out of the educational system altogether.
- Lack of specialized psychosocial support: Many children have suffered trauma and violence during their migratory route and/or in the country of origin, but do not receive the necessary psychological assistance upon arrival, and the few times they have access to it, it lacks a transcultural approach.
- Fragmented national coordination: The distribution of unaccompanied children across Spain’s autonomous communities lacks a standardized approach, leading to disparities in care and access to essential services.
In addition, Save the Children underlined that the intra-national relocation mechanism for unaccompanied children aims to alleviate pressure on border regions but must be fully aligned with children’s rights:[74]
- Best Interest Determination (BID) must be the guiding principle: Any transfer decision must be based on an individualized assessment of the child’s needs and preferences.
- Prohibition of discriminatory selection criteria: Autonomous communities must not impose restrictive conditions—such as age limits or nationality preferences—that undermine the principle of non-discrimination.
- Guarantee of child participation: Children must be informed about and involved in decisions regarding their relocation, ensuring that their opinions are taken into account.
- Coordination between sending and receiving regions: Clear protocols must be established to ensure continuity of care and access to education, health services, and legal support.
In December, the Government of the Canary Islands urged the central Government to solve the situation regarding UAMs in need of international protection. The central Government resumed the negotiations to tackle and solve it, but the political party PP (Partido Popular) pasalised the negotiations and conditioned their continuation to a change in the State migration policy.[75]
In view of the summit of the Autonomous Communities’ Presidents, Save the Children called for the adoption of a comprehensive strategy to guarantee an affective inclusion of children and youngs.[76]
While confirming the failure of the system to protect UAMs who arrive to the Canary Islands and their fear to be considered adults, Amnesty International sent a letter with a set of recommendations to the different competent authorities (Central Government, the Autonomous Communities Governments at the Canary Islands and the Political Parties) on the necessity of respecting the child’s best interest for minors reaching the Canary Islands.[77] The organisation also denounced disproportionate punishments, violence and lack of inspections in the centres for UAM’s in the Canary Islands.[78]
In January 2025, the Spanish Prime Minister set a 10-day deadline to find a temporary solution for the situation of overcrowding in the reception centres for UAMs in the Canary Islands.[79]
In February, the Government of the Canary Islands announced an extension of the emergency declaration in response to the critical situation that the region is facing for the reception of unaccompanied children, as the facilities in the archipelago are operating at 123% capacity, accommodating approximately 5,860 UAMs.[80]
In its 2023 annual report, the Ombudsperson called for the improvement of the protocol for the identification and referral of UAMs when arrivals increase, and identified the necessity to provide with adequate infrastructure and specialised personnel during arrivals, for the identification, reception and inclusion of the UAMs arriving to the archipelago.[81]
During the last years, problems and challenges in carrying out age assessment procedure to UAMs in the Canary Islands have been also reported, with around 2,000 unaccompanied migrant children waiting to undergo the procedure.[82] In its 2022 annual report, the Spanish Ombudsperson continued to express concerns on the issue, as hundreds of UAMs keep on waiting the Public Prosecutor Office to issue the decree determining their age.[83] In February 2024, there were 5,500 migrant children waiting to undergo the procedure and/or for a response.[84]
Discrimination and hate crimes
Discrimination and hate crimes against migrants and refugees continued to be a reason of concern in 2024 and the beginning of 2025.[85]
On the 2024 International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Amnesty International urged the government to end identity checks based on racial profiling.[86]
On the European Day of Victims of Hate Crimes, CEAR expressed concerns on the increase in cases of hate crimes and discrimination in Europe and in Spain. Regarding the Spanish context, the NGO highlighted that persons coming from the North Africa, Muslims and Afro-Descendants are the main target of hate crimes though social networks.[87] The annual report of the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE) at the Ministry of Inclusion, Social security and Migration confirmed such trends, underling also the increase of hate crimes in social networks against unaccompanied migrant children.[88]
In its 2024 annual report on racism in Spain, the organisation SOS Racismo denounced that the many among the cases of discriminatory practices and racism registered in 2023 (215 out of 569 cases) related to institutional racism.[89]
In August, representatives of the political party PSOE at the Municipality of Valencia lodged a denounce at the Public Prosecutor Office for Hate Crimes and Discrimination about the fake accusation towards a migrant for a homicide occurred in the city.[90]
In September, the Plataforma del Tercer Sector[91] called for changes in the Regulation of the Immigration Law – which is undergoing a partial reform – which, among others, foster the protection of victims of racial discrimination and hate crimes, by guaranteeing access to safe reporting and ensuring firewalls against the risk of return.[92]
During the same month, the representatives of the PSOE party at the Municipality of Granada informed about the intention to denounce at the National and Regional Ombudspersons the motion lodged by the far-right political party Vox which referred to migrants in a manner which could amount to hate crime.[93]
Following the reception of 170 migrants in the small town of Mondariz Balneario (Pontevedra), racist fake information on the use of a school for their reception was spread.[94]
A similar situation occurred in Alcalá de Guadaíra (Sevilla), when following the reception of 85 asylum seekers, their alleged responsibility for the rape of a woman was reported despite it not being a founded accusation.[95] The major of the town was also victim of harrassement due to having allowed asylum seekers to be hosted in the municipality.[96] The political party Andalucía Por Sí (AxSí) called to the solidarity and responsibility of the citizens and accused the political parties Partido Popular (PP) and Vox to foster fear against migranst and refugees using fake news.[97]
Similarly, the political party Vox opposed the reception of 100 asylum seekers in the small town of Mora de Rubielos (Teruel), and the staff of the hotel where they were accommodated received death threats.[98]
Anti-migrants’ protests were organised in Las Palmas de Gran Canarias and Santa Cruz de Tenerife (Canary Islands). Participants were protesting against the increase in arrivals in the archipelago, while carrying “Defend our neighbourhoods” and “Stop illegal immigration” placards.[99]
Despite some anti-migrants acts and the hostility of certain politicians, many cities and towns in Spain (including Monterroso, a small town of 3.600 inhabitans in Galicia) welcomed migrants and refugees arriving from the Canary Islands, and taking initiatives to foster their integration.[100]
In September, the major of Badalona (Valencia) partially rectified the racist declarations made in social networks after the detention of a Moroccan man for committing crimes.[101]
In October, the Spanish influencer Rudy Ruymán was denounced by the organisation Afroféminas for hate crimes and discrimination against migrants, especially in the Canary Islands.[102] The anti-migration protests organised in the Canary Islands following the inlfuencer’s push registered a very low turnover, demonstrating that the racist discourse in the archipelago is not backed by most of the population.[103]
During the same month, the Public Prosecutor Office for Hate Crimes in Valencia denounced the spokeperson of the far-right wing party Vox of the Municipality of the city, for his declarations attributing a crime committed in the city to a migrant, while the author is Spanish and in prison.[104]
A study published during the same month highlighted thatin general migration is not prejudicial to national workers nor to their salaries, nor to the access to social services for Spanish citizens. It also underlined that many of those concerns are influenced by wrong perceptions and disinformaion.[105]
Following the flooding occurred in Valencia at the end of October, the Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (Observatorio del Racismo y la Xenofobia – OBERAXE) at the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration informed that 30% of hate crimes in November were related to migrants and the alleged commitment by them of vandalic acts following the flooding.[106]
A study published by the Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE) on the economic impact of inequality and discrimination suffered by migrants in the labour sector highlighted not only the personal consequences people face, but also the economic loss of the State. The report quantifies a loss of €17 thousand million in 1 year, corresponding to 1.3% of the annual GPD.[107]
In December, Accem published a report on hate speech and hate crimes increasingly faced by UAMs in Spain,[108] as well as a guide for professionals on how to prevent racism when working with and assisting UAMs.[109]
In February 2025, the Government of Navarra reported and condemned the far-right graffitis painted on the wall of the Directorate-General of Migration Policies, where the Assistance Service for the Fight against Racism and Xenofobia, and the Counselling Servive for Migration, among others are located.[110]
In the same month, the mayor of Oviedo accused a migrant of the killing of a woman, despite the author of the crime being a Spanish national.[111]
In February 2025, the major of Córdoba criticised an anti-migrants campaign run by the political party Vox. Different political parties also denounced the campaign in front of the local Public Prosecutor, for encouraging hate against migrants.[112] Similarly, the Government of the Basque Country condemned the xenophobic graffiti that appeared in the office for the legal assistance to migrants in the city of Irún.[113]
In March, the Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE), under the Secretary of State for Migration, and LALIGA signed an agreement to use artificial intelligence in the fight against hate speech. The new FARO system will enable the monitoring of thousands of daily messages and is expected to increase the number of reported hate speech incidents by at least 20%.[114]
On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, Accem raised concerns about the rising levels of discrimination and hate crimes against migrants and refugees—particularly in relation to access to housing, healthcare, and employment.[115] Similarly, the Council for the Elimination of Racial or Ethnic Discrimination (CEDRE) issued an urgent recommendation denouncing that access to housing in Spain is challenging for migrants and refugees, due to common instances of racial discrimination.[116] In light of this, the Forum for the Social Integration of Immigrants called on the Government to adopt more measure against racial discrimination.[117]
In occasion of International Domestic Workers Day, the trade union UGT denounced that domestic workers, who are especially women with a migrantory background, continue to suffer from discrimination also based on their gender.[118]
In April, the Guardia Civil started an investigation against the fascist association Núcleo Nacional for inciting hate against migrant community.[119] Additionally, a woman was sentenced to six months in prison and fined €2,000 for committing a hate crime after directing racist insults at a migrant in the city center of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, targeting him because of his skin color.[120] That same month, news of 116 migrants being accommodated in a hotel in Ciudad Real sparked a wave of hate messages against the establishment on social media.[121]
In April 2022, the Government adopted the Second Action Plan to Fight against Hate Crimes for 2022-2024,[122] while in July 2023 it approved the comprehensive law on equal treatment and discrimination,[123] welcomed by the organisations forming the Alliance for the Law on Equal Treatment as a step forward in the fight against discrimination. Nevertheless, the Alliance highlighted that the law remained lacking in some areas, mainly due to the failure to introduce additional mechanisms – such as accompaniment and translation – to guarantee an effective and comprehensive protection of victims. In addition, the Alliance voiced concerns on the lack of measures to tackle discrimination in certain contexts, such as the action of law enforcement agencies and the education.[124] The Spanish Ombudsperson indicated to have initiated all the necessary steps to monitor the implementation of the law, and to foster access to the body to all those persons victims of discrimination in any public context.[125]
Asylum seekers, refugees and migrants in Spain continued to suffer from financial exclusion and discrimination, because of the challenges often faced while trying to open bank accounts.[126]
Similarly, migrants and asylum seekers continued to face challenging in accessing health, despite the legislation guarantee them such a right.[127]
LGBTQI+
In June 2022, the Government approved a law on the equality of transgender individuals and on additional guarantees of LGTBI+ persons’ rights, which foresees also the right self-determination and the possibility of gender rectification at the Civil registry.[128] Amnesty International welcomed the proposal as a step to advance in guarantee LGTBI+ rights.[129] The National Federation of Lesbians, Gays, Trans, Bisexuals, Intersexual+ (Federación Estatal de Lesbianas, Gais, Trans, Bisexuales, Intersexuales y más – Felgtbi+)[130] called the Government to guarantee the right to change gender at the register to all trans migrants, independently of their administrative situation.[131] The law was approved in March 2023.[132]
The 2024 ILGA report highlighted that hate speech against LGBT people continued to be a serious issue in Spain, and that anti-trans rhetoric continued to gain more ground.[133]
UNHCR continued its collaboration with the Spanish Federation of LGTBIQ+ Associations (FELGTBI+) launching a joint training course on asylum for LGTBIQ+ NGOs, providing observations to the Law on the real and effective equality of transgender people and the rights of LGTBIQ+ people which included an article on International Protection, and the presentation of a pledge in the Forum “Spain for Refugees”.[134]
A comparative report published by the EU Fundamental Rights Agency highlighted the multiple levels of discrimination that LGBTQI+ people face in EU Member States. It also showed that interviewees in Spain reported an increase of violence, intolerance and prejudice towards the LGBTQI+ community in the past 4 years.[135]
In occasion of the 2024 World Day against LGTBI-phobia, the Government reaffirmed its committement for the real and effective equality of LGTBIQ+ people. In fact, despite the legal and policy improvements made in advancing LGTBIQ+ rights and the increased social acceptance and committement, the rise in hate speech is a concern.[136]
In June, the Program for the Information and Assistance to LGTBI persons of the Autonomous Community of Madrid informed that, during the last year, the inquiries on international protection applications based on a SOGIESC claim increased up to 40% of the total enquiries received by the service.[137]
During the International LGTBQI+ Pride Day, CEAR denounced the challenges still existing in Spain for the granting of refugee protection on grounds of their sexual orientation and gender identity.[138]
In July, the political party PSOE announced the intention to design a plan to improve the protection and reception of LGTBIQ+ asylum seekers.[139]
[1] DGIAH, Reception Handbook, November 2018, A, 6.
[2] DGIAH, Reception Handbook, November 2018, G.2 (22), G.3 (24).
[3] Boletín Oficial del Estado, ‘Real Decreto 220/2022, de 29 de marzo, por el que se aprueba el Reglamento por el que se regula el sistema de acogida en materia de protección internacional’, available at: https://bit.ly/3QR8SHo; Migrar con Derechos, ‘Instrucción SEM de 15 de diciembre de 2022. Acceso y permanencia sistema acogida protección internacional’, 15 December 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/42A0pxQ.
[4] Asociación Pro Derechos Humanos de Andalucía, ‘El Defensor del Pueblo advierte “significativas carencias” en el diseño de los programas de acogida humanitaria’, 7 August 2020, available at: https://bit.ly/2LUNvrI.
[5] Defensor del Pueblo, ‘Informe Anual 2023. Volumen I’, March 2024, p. 181, available here.
[6] ACNUR, ‘Inclusión implementa junto a ACNUR el Protocolo de actuación sobre violencia de género en el sistema de acogida’, 23 February 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3PZD0zO.
[7] ACNUR, Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones, ‘Protocolo de actuación ante la violencia contra las mujeres solicitantes y beneficiarias de protección internacional y temporal’, available at: https://bit.ly/3PWMQCA.
[8] ACNUR, Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones, ‘Cómo actuar ante la violencia contra las mujeres solicitantes y beneficiarias de protección internacional y temporal. Guía de bolsillo para profesionales del SAPIT sobre la aplicación del protocolo de actuación ante la violencia contra las mujeres en el sistema de acogida de protección internacional, dirigida al personal técnico’, available at: https://bit.ly/3WBmyIv.
[9] El Día Digital, ‘Un total de 772 oficinas de la Seguridad Social empiezan a funcionar como Puntos Violeta’, 25 November 2024, available here.
[10] Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones, ‘Inclusión implementa junto a ACNUR el Protocolo de actuación sobre violencia de género en el sistema de acogida’, 23 February 2022, available at: https://tinyurl.com/3jzskny3
[11] Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguirdad Social y Migraciones, ‘Inclusión y ACNUR extienden el protocolo de actuación sobre violencia de género a los centros de atención humanitaria’, 18 April 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/52azcn3t.
[12] Information provided by UNHCR in April 2024.
[13] Plataforma de Infancia, ‘La situación de la infancia en España en 2022’, November 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3KnfWK3.
[14] Plataforma de Infancia, ‘Posicionamiento sobre la infancia acompañada en el sistema de asilo en España’, December 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/yc7n85tu.
[15] El Mundo, ‘El Supremo da 10 días al Gobierno para hacerse cargo de un millar de menores no acompañados en Canarias que han pedido asilo’, 26 March 2025, available here; Europa Press, ‘Sistema “sobresaturado” en Canarias: ONG urgen soluciones para los menores migrantes tras la decisión del Supremo’, 28 March 2025, available here; Bolaños asegura que el Estado trabaja en cumplir con el TS y dar asilo a los menores migrantes, 28 March 2025, available here; Europa Press, ‘La Policía de Extranjería ignora al Supremo y paraliza el proceso de asilo de 675 menores’, 28 March 2025, available here; Canarias 7, ‘El traslado de los solicitantes de asilo ‘topa’ con una red de acogida estatal que no está preparada’, 27 March 2025, available here; El Periódico, ‘El Gobierno se resiste a acoger a los menores refugiados llegados a Canarias, como le exige el Supremo’, 31 March 2025, available here.
[16] Information provided by Save the Children in February 2025.
[17] Ministerio de Derechos Sociales y Agenda 2030, ‘Modelo de gestión de contingencias migratorias para la infancia y adolescencia no acompañada’, October 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3FzXrzp.
[18] Information provided by Save the Children in March 2023.
[19] El Confidencial, ‘El Gobierno y las CCAA acuerdan trasladar a la península a 400 menores de Canarias y Ceuta’, 27 July 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3KoNKq4.
[20] Europa Press, ‘El Gobierno aumenta en 1,4 millones el gasto para los dispositivos de emergencia de menores migrantes’, 24 November 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3Knpuon.
[21] Cadena Ser, ‘Los niños llegados solos en pateras se duplica y son más vulnerables, según Save the Children’, 17 January 2024, available here.
[22] Europa Press, ‘Unicef pide para los menores migrantes de Canarias el mismo trato que se da a los refugiados de Ucrania’, 20 February 2024, available here; UNICEF, ‘’La respuesta de España a la crisis de Ucrania: ¿Un punto de inflexión en la protección de la infancia en contexto de contingencias humanitarias migratorias?’, January 2024, available here.
[23] Gobierno de Canarias, ‘Gobierno y ACNUR diseñan un protocolo para garantizar la protección de menores refugiados no acompañados’, 27 June 2024, available here.
[24] Qué, ‘Canarias y Unicef se encargan del cuidado integral de los niños migrantes sin familia en las islas’, 7 August 2024, available here; Gobierno de Canarias, ‘Sanidad y Bienestar Social abordan con Unicef la asistencia a la población pediátrica migrante’, 7 August 2024, available here; Gobiernode Canarias, ‘El Gobierno autoriza 2,2 M€ para la contratación urgente de personal dedicado a la atención de menores migrantes’, 2 Septembe 2024, available here.
[25] La Moncloa, ‘Rego anuncia un plan estratégico para la infancia migrante’, 4 September 2024, available here.
[26] Euractiv, ‘Madrid and the EU working on emergency plan to alleviate migration crisis’, 5 September 2024, available here.
[27] Radio Televisión Ceuta, ‘Ceuta recibirá 4,5 millones de euros para atender a la infancia migrante sin compañía’, 3 September 2024, available here.
[28] La Vanguardia, ‘Rego y las entidades sociales avanzan hacia el pacto de Estado de pobreza infantil’, 24 October 2024, available here.
[29] Junta de Andalucía, ‘La Junta y ACNUR firman un protocolo para menores no acompañados con necesidad de protección internacional’, 20 October 2024, available here.
[30] ACNUR, ‘Protocolo para la identificación y el acompañamiento de niños, niñas y adolescentes en necesidad de protección internacional en Canarias’, 2024, available here.
[31] Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública – EASP, ‘La EASP y UNICEF España se alían para trabajar por la protección de los derechos de la infancia’, 2 October 2024, available here.
[32] Valencia Plaza, ‘El Gobierno dice que 20.332 menores migrantes no acompañados han llegado a España desde 2019’, 30 November 2024, available here.
[33] Radio Televisión española, ‘Día Internacional de las Personas Migrantes: los bulos que más les afectan’, 18 december 2024, available here.
[34] Caminando Fronteras, ‘Monitoreo del derecho a la vida – Año 2024’, December 2024, available here.
[35] El Diario, ‘Más de un año separados de sus hijos por una decisión “precipitada” y sustentada en “meras conjeturas”’, 6 January 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/23y45vcr.
[36] Ministerio de Derechos Sociales y Agenda 2023, ‘Infancia con derechos: Plan de Acción Estatal para la Implementación de la Garantía Infantil Europea (2022-2030)’, July 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3zk3hl1.
[37] Ministerio de Derechos Sociales y Agenda 2030, ‘Estrategia estatal de derechos de la infancia y de la adolescencia (2023-2030)’, May 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/yec99pr4.
[38] Portal de Transparencia, Ministerio de Juventud e Infancia, available at: https://tinyurl.com/42y8z6wa.
[39] Servimedia, ‘Sira Rego apuesta por un plan integral de atención, protección e inclusión de menores migrantes’, 20 February 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/3bkmukxt.
[40] Info Migrants, ‘’A child needs more than food and shelter’: The fate of unaccompanied minors on the Canary Islands’, 1 January 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3smhuZd.
[41] El SaltoDiario, ‘Urge garantizar los derechos de la infancia migrante que llega a Canarias, apuntan las organizaciones’, 6 November 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/yut8awyx.
[42] Amnistía Internacional, ‘AI: Canarias/ Nueva investigación: Niños y niñas que viajan solos detenidos junto a adultos y con sus pertenencias confiscadas’, 3 November 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/ycyeetme.
[43] Diario de Canarias, ‘Acuerdo unánime para distribuir entre las comunidades autónomas a 450 menores migrantes llegados a Canarias’, 11 October 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/57ame5jr
[44] EFE, ‘Canarias inicia el proceso para intentar el reparto obligatorio de los menores migrantes’, 11 February 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/mrn3bu5f.
[45] El Diario, ‘Canarias pide al Gobierno de España que interceda en la atención a la población migrante’, 21 December 2024, available here; E-noticies, ‘El Gobierno quiere obligar a las comunidades autónomas a acoger menores inmigrantes’, 3 January 2024, available here; El Diario, ‘Qué hacer con los menores que llegan a Canarias’, 2 February 2024, available here.
[46] Canarias 7, ‘Gabilondo: «El reparto de los menores no puede dirimirse en una reunión de tarde»’, 24 February 2024, available here.
[47] Infobae, ‘El Gobierno pide la implicación de las comunidades en la acogida de menores inmigrantes’, 16 April 2024, available here; EFE, ‘Siete ministerios se reúnen para buscar una fórmula de reparto de menores inmigrantes’, 16 April 2024, available here.
[48] Cadena Ser, ‘Pilar Cancela: “Es absolutamente ridículo pactar el reparto de 300 menores, eso ¿qué resuelve?”’, 21 July 2024, available here; Associated Press, ‘Thousands of migrant kids have reached the Canary Islands alone. Local officials want Spain’s help’, 23 July 2024, available here.
[49] El Diario, ‘Acnur pide a los grupos parlamentarios un pacto de “responsabilidad compartida” en la acogida de menores migrantes’, 9 July 2024, available here; Tercera Información, ‘ACNUR pide a los parlamentarios solidaridad y responsabilidad para reforzar la protección de menores migrantes y refugiados’, 10 July 2024, available here; Cadena Ser, ‘”Son niños que huyen de guerras y hambrunas”: Save The Children reclama un reparto responsable de los menores migrantes’, 9 July 2024, available here; El País, ‘El Defensor del Pueblo instó en julio al Gobierno a que abriese centros de recepción de menores migrantes ante el aumento de llegadas en Canarias’, 5 September 2024, available here.
[50] 20 Minutos, ‘Meses de negociación para una “solidaridad obligatoria”: el Gobierno presenta a Canarias su plan final de reparto de menores migrantes’, 22 April 20224, available here; Alfa y Omega, ‘
Acuerdo entre Canarias y el Gobierno central para derivar 2.500 menores a otras autonomías’, 23 April 2024, available here; Canarias 7, ‘Las ONG celebran el acuerdo entre Estado y Canarias en el reparto de menores migrantes’, 23 April 2024, available here.
[51] Noticias Obreras, ‘El plan del Gobierno para acoger a menores migrantes frustrado por los cálculos partidistas’, 24 July 2024, available here.
[52] El Salto Diario, ‘El Gobierno aprueba la distribución de menores migrantes no acompañados entre las comunidades autónomas’, 18 March 2025, available here; Jefatura del Estado, ‘Real Decreto-ley 2/2025, de 18 de marzo, por el que se aprueban medidas urgentes para la garantía del interés superior de la infancia y la adolescencia ante situaciones de contingencias migratorias extraordinarias’, 18 March 2025, available here; la Moncloa, ‘Rego defiende la necesidad de garantizar los derechos universales de la infancia migrante que llega a España’, 19 March 2025, available here; ABC, ‘Clavijo convoca al ‘Pacto Canario por la Inmigración’ para explicar el acuerdo de menores migrantes’, 19 March 2025, available here; El Plural, ‘Las CC.AA han esperado hasta el último día para comunicar al Gobierno la cifra de menores migrantes que atienden’, 30 March 2025, available here; Accem, ‘Posicionamiento de Accem sobre el acuerdo para la distribución autonómica de los menores migrantes no acompañados’, 21 March 2025, available here; La Vanguardia, ‘UNICEF celebra el acuerdo para reubicar a menores y pide colaborar a todas las comunidades’, 18 March 2025, available here; La Vanguardia, ‘Organizaciones de infancia temen que el reparto de menores migrantes no garantice “una acogida digna y respetuosa”, 20 March 2025, available here; Diario de Avisos, ‘ONGs de infancia piden garantizar una acogida digna y respetuosa a los menores migrantes’, 21 March 2025, available here; El Faro de Melilla, ‘Cuestionan la legalidad del decreto para repartir a menores migrantes entre autonomías’, 21 March 2025, available here.
[53] El Diario Montañez, ‘Cantabria recurrirá el decreto que regula el reparto de menores migrantes’, 19 March 2025, available here; Onda Cero, ‘Baleares estudiará si es posible rechazar el reparto de menores migrantes’, 18 March 2025, available here.
[54] El Salto Diario, ‘Varias comunidades recurren ante el Constitucional la distribución de menores migrantes no acompañados’, 2 April 2025, available here.
[55] Heraldo, ‘El TSJ de Madrid admite a trámite el recurso presentado por Aragón para frenar el reparto de menores’, 1 April 2025, available here.
[56] El Periódico de España, ‘El 91% de los menores migrantes que han llegado a Canarias en el último año lo hicieron solos’, 1 August 2024, available here.
[57] La Vanguardia, ‘ACNUR calcula que el 55% de los menores migrantes en Canarias son susceptibles de asilo’, 27 June 2024, available here.
[58] Europa Press, ‘Canarias activa un plan de choque para reforzar la atención inmediata a menores migrantes’, 31 July 2024, available here; El Confidencial Autonómico, ‘El Gobierno de Canarias destinará dos millones de euros en reforzar la atención a menores migrantes’, 2 August 2024, available here.
[59] Gobierno de Canarias, ‘El Gobierno de Canarias establece un protocolo de recepción de menores migrantes no acompañados’, 12 September 2024, available here, Antena 3, ‘Canarias aprueba un protocolo para acabar con el “desorden” en la acogida de menores migrantes’, 13 September 2024, available here; El Confidencial, ‘Canarias oficializa su pulso sobre menores: ya no los aceptará sin identificar’, 12 September 2024, available here.
[60] El Diario, ‘Clavijo defiende que el acuerdo sobre la tutela de los menores migrantes “está avalado por los servicios jurídicos”’, 12 September 2024, available here; Levante, ‘Clavijo no entiende que el Gobierno “ataque” a Canarias por pedir que el menor migrante se entregue con garantías’, 18 September 2024, available here.
[61] El Español, ‘La Fiscalía pide al Tribunal Superior de Canarias la suspensión inmediata del protocolo de ‘menas’’, 18 September 2024, available here; El Imparcial, ‘El Ejecutivo canario considera que no se están cumpliendo los protocolos’, 2 September 2024, available here.
[62] Canarias 7, ‘ONG denuncia a Gobierno canario por su interpretación sobre la tutela de menores migrantes’, 12 September 2024, available here; Europa Press, ‘La Red Española de Inmigración y Ayuda al Refugiado insta a Clavijo a “cesar en su guerra contra los menores”’, 27 September 2024, available here.
[63] El Diario, ‘La Justicia suspende la orden del Gobierno canario que pedía a las ONG no acoger menores sin su autorización’, 26 September 2024, available here; RTVC, ‘El TSJC suspende la instrucción del Gobierno canario de no acoger menores migrantes sin su permiso’, 26 September 2024, available here.
[64] ABC, ‘España impugnará ante el Constitucional el protocolo de menores migrantes aprobado por Canarias’, 24 September 2024, available here.
[65] Diario de Avisos, ‘El Gobierno de España propone distribuir los menores en función de la población de cada comunidad’, 3 October 2024, available here.
[66] 20 minutos, ‘La fiscal de menores del Tribunal Supremo pide agilidad en la atención a niños migrantes en Canarias’, 2 October 2024, available here.
[67] Diario de Avisos, ‘Canarias exige al Estado 157 millones por la atención a menores migrantes’, 7 October 2024, available here.
[68] Europa Press, ‘España defiende que “gran parte” de los menores migrantes en Canarias pueden recibir protección internacional’, 25 November 2024, available here; Radio Televisión Canaria, ‘España defiende que los menores migrantes deben recibir protección internacional’, 25 November 2024, available here.
[69] Europa Press, ‘Un menor migrante denuncia malos tratos en dos centros de acogida de Gran Canaria’, 30 April 2024, available here.
[70] Cadena Ser, ‘La Red Española de Migración se querella contra Canarias por las condiciones de acogida de los menores en la Casa del Mar’, 1 July 2024, available here.
[71] Radio Faro del Noroeste, ‘Arucas solicita al Gobierno de Canarias el cierre inmediato del centro de menores inmigrantes en Montaña de Cardones’, 4 August 2024, available here.
[72] NoNovact, Irídia, ‘Vulneración de Derechos Humanos en Canarias 2024. Infancia migrante y Criminalización’, December 2024, available here.
[73] Information provided by Save the Children in February 2025.
[74] Information provided by Save the Children in February 2025.
[75] El País, ‘El PP bloquea la negociación sobre los menores migrantes y la condiciona a un cambio de política migratoria’, 5 December 2024, available here; Gobierno de Canarias, ‘Canarias urge al Estado a resolver la situación de los menores solicitantes de asilo’, 4 december 2024, available here; El Diario, ‘Vuelven las negociaciones sobre la acogida obligatoria de menores migrantes sin que el PP garantice su apoyo’, 4 December 2024, available here; Euractiv, ‘Sánchez, centre-right, failed to reach a deal on ‘solidarity sharing’ of migrant minors’, 6 December 2024, available here.
[76] Europa Press, ‘Save the Children reclama una estrategia integral para la “inclusión efectiva” de la infancia y juventud migrante’, 12 December 2024, available here.
[77] Amnistía Internacional, ‘Niños que temen ser adultos: El fracaso del sistema para proteger a los y las menores migrantes llegados a Canarias’, 16 January 2025, available here.
[78] Amnistía Internacional, ‘Menores migrantes en Canarias: documentamos denuncias de violencia y castigos excesivos contra niños en centros de acogida saturados’, 18 March 2025, available here; Huffington Post, ‘Amnistía Internacional documenta violencia, excesos y descoordinación en la gestión de la infancia migrante’, 18 March 2025, available here; El Diario, ‘Amnistía Internacional denuncia ”castigos excesivos” y falta de inspecciones en los centros de menores migrantes de Canarias’, 18 March 2025, available here.
[79] Euractiv, ‘Sánchez to seek urgent fix for Canary Islands migration crisis’, 10 January 2025, available here.
[80] Canarian Weekly, ‘Canarian government extends emergency measures as youth reception centres are at 123% capacity’, 24 February 2025, available here.
[81] Defensor del Pueblo, ‘Informe anual 2023. Volumen I’, March 2024, p. 75, available here.
[82] El Diario, ‘Cómo son las pruebas de edad por las que desesperan “congelados” más de 1.700 migrantes en Canarias’, 27 May 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3JQeT31; Unicef, ‘Canarias: niños y niñas migrantes en una de las rutas más peligrosas del mundo’, July 2021, available at: https://bit.ly/3fi8wYc, 20.
[83] Defensor del Pueblo, ‘Informe anual 2022 – Volumen I’, March 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/3nzfYpt, 166.
[84] Cadena Ser,’ El Defensor del Pueblo canario abre una investigación para esclarecer la situación de los menores en prisión’, 15 February 2024, available at: https://tinyurl.com/2ep2zv4r.
[85] Maldita Migración, ‘Narrativas desinformadoras y cómo te la cuelan con bulos sobre pateras e inmigrantes que llegan a las costas españolas’, 30 August 2024, available here.
[86] Amnistía Internacional, ‘Día Internacional contra el racismo: España debe dejar de realizar controles de identidad basados en perfiles raciales’, 20 march 2024, available here.
[87] CEAR, ‘¿Por qué aumentan los delitos de odio racistas y cómo prevenirlos?’, 22 July 2024, available here.
[88] Spanish Observatory on Racism and Xenophobia (OBERAXE), ‘Annual report monitoring hate speech on social media – 2023’, July 2024, available here.
[89] SOS Racismo, ‘2024. Informe Anual, El estado del racismo en el estado español. Denuncias recopiladas’, June 2024, available here.
[90] Levante, ‘Los socialistas denuncian al líder de Vox en València por delito de odio’, 6 August 2024, available here; El Diario, ‘El PSPV denuncia ante Fiscalía al líder de Vox en València por difundir un bulo que culpaba a un migrante de un asesinato’, 8 August 2024, available here.
[91] Inicio | Plataforma tercer sector.
[92] Plataforma del Tercer Sector, ‘La Plataforma del Tercer Sector demanda cambios en el Reglamento de Extranjería para facilitar la inclusión de la población migrante y refugiada’, 23 september 2024, available here.
[93] El Independiente de Granada, ‘El PSOE denunciará la moción de Vox contra las personas migrantes por ‘incitar al odio’, 28 September 2024, available here.
[94] El País, ‘Radiografía de otro bulo xenófobo tras la acogida de 170 inmigrantes en un pueblo de Pontevedra’, 17 September 2024, available here.
[95] Qué, ‘La Comisión Española de Ayuda al Refugiado avisa de la difusión de un bulo sobre los migrantes de Alcalá’, 19 september 2024, available here.
[96] The Objective, ‘Sevilla denuncia el acoso a la alcaldesa de Alcalá de Guadaíra por la acogida de refugiados’, 11 September 2024, available here.
[97] Onda Local Andalucía, ‘CEAR asegura que las personas migrantes acogidas en Alcalá son 85, no 150’, 10 September 2024, available here; La Vanguardia, ‘AxSí pide solidaridad con los refugiados en Alcalá y acusa a Vox y PP de “avivar el miedo por rédito político”, 10 September 2024, available here.
[98] El País, ‘Mora de Rubielos, el pequeño pueblo de Teruel que acoge a más de 100 inmigrantes: “Yo también fui migrante en Alemania”’, 6 September 2024, available here.
[99] The Guardian, ‘Hundreds in Canary Islands protest against influx of migrants’, 6 July 2024, available here.
[100] The Guardian, ‘‘They’re setting an example for us’: the small Spanish town welcoming refugees’, 13 September 2024, available here.
[101] Cadena Ser, ‘Albiol rectifica a medias tras decir que no le sorprendería que un día un grupo de vecinos “se canse y linche a uno de estos sinvergüenzas” en referencia a un detenido marroquí’, 13 September 2024, available here.
[102] Afroféminas, ‘Afroféminas denuncia al influencer canario Rudy Ruymán por delito de odio contra la población migrante’, 15 October 2024, available here;
[103] Afroféminas, ‘La manifestación antiinmigración en Canarias queda casi vacía’, 28 October 2024, available here.
[104] El Español de Valencia, ‘La Fiscalía denuncia al juzgado las declaraciones del líder de Vox en Valencia por supuesto delito de odio’, 24 october 2024, available here.
[105] El País, ‘Los inmigrantes ni quitan el empleo a los españoles, ni hacen que sus sueldos sean menores’, 9 October 2024, available here.
[106] Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones, ‘El 30% de los discursos de odio en noviembre se relacionaron con la población migrante en el contexto de la DANA’, 17 December 2024, available here.
[107] Mahía, R. and Medina, E., ‘Análisis del impacto económico de la discriminación y la desigualdad entre la población autóctona y la extranjera residente en España. RESUMEN’, Observatorio Español del Racismo y la Xenofobia – OBERAXE, November 2024, available here.
[108] Accem, ‘Cartografías del racismo. Estudio sobre el racismo cotidiano hacia los niños, adolescentes y jóvenes que han migrado solos’, December 2024, available here.
[109] Accem, ‘Guía para profesionales. Prevención del racismo en la intervención con niños, adolescentes y jóvenes que han migrado solos. Necesidades, buenas prácticas y recomendaciones’, December 2024, available here.
[110] Navarra.es, ‘El Gobierno de Navarra denuncia la aparición de pintadas ultras en la oficina de los servicios de atención a la población migrante’, 3 February 2025, available here.
[111] El País, ‘El alcalde de Oviedo acusa sin fundamento a un migrante de un crimen machista y pide minutos de silencio para los hombres’, 2 Februay 2025, available here.
[112] Cordópolis, ‘El alcalde de Córdoba critica la campaña de Vox contra los migrantes: “No tiene nada que ver con nuestro pensamiento”, 27 February 2025, available here; Córdoba Hoy, ‘El PSOE llevará a la Fiscalía la campaña de Vox contra los migrantes por vulnerar la Ley de Igualdad de Trato y No Discriminación’, 24 February 2025, available here.
[113] El Diario, ‘El Gobierno vasco condena unas pintadas xenófobas en una oficina de atención jurídica al migrante en Irún’, 25 February 2025, available here.
[114] Ministerio de Inclusión, Seguridad Social y Migraciones, ‘El Oberaxe incorpora la inteligencia artificial para combatir el discurso de odio gracias al convenio entre LALIGA y el Ministerio de Migraciones’, 11 March 2025, available here.
[115] El Periódico de Canarias, ‘Accem señala un aumento de incidentes de odio y situaciones discriminatorias, especialmente en vivienda, empleo y salud’, 21 March 2025, available here.
[116] Por un trabajo digno – UGT, ‘CEDRE alerta sobre la discriminación étnico-racial en el acceso a la vivienda’, 28 March 2025, available here.
[117] Por un trabajo digno – UGT, ‘El Foro para la Integración Social de los Inmigrantes reclama más medidas contra la discriminación racial’, 25 March 2025, available here.
[118] UGT,’UGT denuncia que las trabajadoras del hogar continúan sufriendo discriminación por razón de género’, 30 March 2025, available here.
[119] La Vanguardia, ‘La Guardia Civil investiga a Núcleo Nacional por incitar a la “lucha” contra la “invasión” migrante’, 1 April 2025, available here.
[120] La Provincia, ‘Condenada por delito de odio tras insultos racistas a un migrante en pleno centro de Tenerife’, 2 April 2025, available here.
[121] El País, ‘“Tu negocio será la ruina del pueblo”: los mensajes de odio contra un hotel de Ciudad Real que iba a acoger a 116 migrantes’, 1 April 2025, available here.
[122] Ministerio del Interior – Secretaría de Estado de Seguridad, ‘II Plan de Acción de Lucha contra los Delitos de Odio, 2022-2024’, April 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/43c8gBY.
[123] Boletín Oficial del Estado, ‘Ley 15/2022, de 12 de julio, integral para la igualdad de trato y la no discriminación’, 13 July 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3ZAVtG7.
[124] Accem, ‘La Alianza por la Ley de Igualdad de Trato celebra por fin su aprobación en el Congreso’, 1 July 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3MjIhlM.
[125] Defensor del Pueblo, ‘Informe anual 2022 – Volumen I’, March 2023, available at: https://bit.ly/40GEOlN.
[126] CEAR, ‘INFORME 2024. Las personas refugiadas en España y Europa’, June 2024, p. 125, available here.
[127] Ibidem, p. 120.
[128] La Moncloa, ‘El Gobierno aprueba el proyecto de ley para la igualdad de las personas trans y la garantía de los derechos LGTBI’, 27 June 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/3zvLEPi.
[129] Amnesty International, ‘AI: ley LGBTI, o cuando el DNI tiene que ver con los derechos humanos’, 2 November 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/40CTpyt.
[130] FELGTBI+, see: https://felgtbi.org/.
[131] La Vanguardia, ‘La Felgtbi+ exige garantizar el cambio registral de género a las personas trans migrantes, al margen de su situación administrativa’, 16 December 2022, available at: https://bit.ly/436jzeE.
[132] Boletín Oficial del estado, ‘Ley 4/2023, de 28 de febrero, para la igualdad real y efectiva de las personas trans y para la garantía de los derechos de las personas LGTBI’, March 2023, available at: https://tinyurl.com/m88ftbnp.
[133] ILGA, ‘2024 Annual review. The 13th edition of our annual review of the human rights situation of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and intersex people in Europe and Central Asia’, 29 February 2024, available here.
[134] Information provided by UNHCR in April 2024.
[135] European Union Agency for Fundamnetal Rights, ‘LGBTIQ equality at a crossroads ― progress and challenges’, May 2024, available here.
[136] Ministerio de Igualdad, ‘Declaración institucional con motivo del 17 de mayo, día internacional contra la homofobia, la transfobia y la bifobia’, 14 May 2024, available here.
[137] Europa Press, ‘Consultas sobre protección internacional por LGTBIfobia son las que más crecen en el programa regional de atención LGTBI’, 28 June 2024, available here.
[138] CEAR, ‘Orgullo de ser refugio para que todas las personas puedan ser, sentir y amar en libertad’, 28 June 2024, available here.
[139] Libertad Digital, ‘El PSOE impulsa un plan para elevar la acogida de los inmigrantes que argumenten ser LGTB’, 4 July 2024, available here.