The Social Welfare and Equality Advisory Council of Irun has presented its activity report for the past year, following its annual meeting held this summer. The council, chaired by mayor Cristina Laborda, includes area delegates, political groups, and representatives from approximately 50 social entities.
The department offers various services, including primary care, programs for the elderly, child protection, community reception, support for victims of gender-based violence, and gender equality initiatives, alongside cooperation and democratic memory projects.
Programs for the Elderly accounted for the largest share of the budget (33.28%), followed by Primary Care (23.77%). Administrative and quality management services represented 16.73%, Community Intervention 14.50%, Development Cooperation 7.43%, Equality 3.86%, Democratic Memory 0.4%, and Human Rights and Values 0.026%.
Mayor Cristina Laborda emphasized that "the cohesion of our city would not be understood without these Social Welfare and Equality policies," viewing the investment as a "direct improvement in the quality of life." Social Welfare delegate Josu Iguiñiz noted that the area's budget exceeds "10% of the municipal budget" and thanked the staff, reiterating the commitment to "leave no one behind."
According to last year's data, 299 families received intervention from Social Welfare due to detected indicators of child and/or adolescent neglect. A total of 474 minors were involved. The importance of collaboration with police services and educational institutions for early detection was highlighted.
Regarding support for victims of gender-based violence, 268 women received assistance, with 76 being new cases, marking a 27.62% increase from the previous year. Of these, 151 filed a report and 112 had a Protection Order.
Furthermore, in collaboration with the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa, 155 individuals (127 women and 28 minors) received psychological support through the Support Programs, a significant rise from the 93 individuals assisted the year before.
The Irun City Council reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Social Welfare and Equality services, focusing on the needs of citizens and prioritizing vulnerable situations to advance as a city centered on people's well-being.
