Prosocial calls for a "dignified and community-based" welcome for migrant minors in the Balearic Islands.
They demand that they stop being used as a weapon in a partisan dispute.
PalmThe organization Prosocial has expressed its concern about the controversy that arose this summer over the arrival of migrant children from the Canary Islands to the Balearic Islands, after the government and island councils refused to accept them. According to the organization, the debate has become a political confrontation centered on the number of children and young people to be cared for, without taking into account their "extremely vulnerable" situation.
Prosocial emphasizes that migrant children are the "most fragile" group within the current migration phenomenon, both in terms of emotional stability and personal safety and the guarantee of their rights. "Many of these children are fleeing wars, persecution, and famine, and have had to face long journeys exposed to danger and abuse," they emphasize. For this reason, the organization insists that it must offer these young people the maximum protection, as established by international conventions and Spanish law.
In this sense, they regret that this reality has become a "war of reproaches and accusations," in which minors have ceased to be considered people and are instead treated as "the problem." Prosocial also denounces the criminalization of the group by some political parties and the media, which contributes to increasing stigmatization and hinders their social integration.
Faced with this situation, the organization demands that minors not be used as a partisan dispute and that an end be put to institutional or political advertising that contributes to criminalizing them. They also call for quality educational care with programs that facilitate social and labor integration, as well as the inspection of emergency reception centers to ensure their proper functioning.
Overall, Prosocial considers it essential to expedite the documentation of foreign minors and increase the number of places for young people who must leave the guardianship system, ensuring a support system toward adulthood. The organization demands that initial reception places be "well-funded" and that residential resources be expanded to ensure consistent and stable care.
Furthermore, they propose avoiding the location of centers in peripheral areas to prevent the isolation of young people and strengthen their ties to the community. In this regard, they insist that integration must be built on coexistence and social participation, and propose the creation of sponsorship or mentoring programs so that citizen volunteers can accompany migrant minors.
The organization also urges training for professionals who work with these young people in socio-educational, legal, and employment settings, and the promotion of social awareness measures to foster a climate of acceptance. They also demand the involvement of city councils in community integration projects and maximum transparency from administrations regarding the management of reception centers and places, without disclosing their location to protect the children.
Finally, Prosocial calls for better coordination among island councils so that all islands can participate in the care of minors according to their resources. The organization argues that the reception of migrant minors should be understood as an opportunity to rethink the child protection system and strengthen public policies that guarantee the rights of children and adolescents in the Balearic Islands.
