The Basque Parliament approved this Thursday the reform of the Youth Law to strengthen controls in summer camps. The initiative, promoted by the PNV and PSE parties, comes after 21 complaints for alleged crimes against the sexual freedom of minors at the camps in Bernedo (Álava), where they were forced into mixed nudist showers, sometimes with monitors present. The new regulations will be complemented by a decree that the Basque Government will approve this June to add further requirements.
The main novelty is the replacement of prior notification with a declaration of responsibility, which guarantees that the organizer assumes full legal accountability for compliance with the rules. Furthermore, it will be mandatory to provide a negative certificate of sexual offenses for all personnel in contact with minors, which must be renewed annually. The figure of a child protection delegate will also be created.
The Minister of Welfare, Nerea Melgosa, recalled that the Bernedo camp has been prohibited for this summer by the Provincial Council of Álava. Given the possibility that the 200 registered families may attend on July 1st, the scheduled start date, she appealed to "common sense" for them not to do so.
“"The message is simple and straightforward: without guarantees, there is no activity; without security, there is no activity; without compliance, there is no activity. The Basque Government fulfills its commitment to act."
The law reviews and clarifies infractions. Conducts that promote discrimination or violence are considered very serious. Serious offenses include allowing minors to participate without parental authorization, concealing profit motives, or not having qualified personnel and adequate equipment. Sanctions for matters already covered in the Law on Children and Adolescence could reach 600,000 euros.
The opposition has harshly criticized the reform. From EH Bildu, Edurne Benito del Valle spoke of "legal botches," asserting that "this supposed toughening does not exist." The PP parliamentarian, Laura Garrido, accused the Government of "washing its image" in response to its own inaction and neglect regarding the serious events that occurred at the Bernedo camp years ago. Meanwhile, Jon Hernández of Sumar lamented that "an opportunity is lost" to have addressed the issue "more calmly, with more consensus, and away from political and media noise," and the Vox parliamentarian, Amaia Martínez, described the bill as something "that is useless" because "it has fallen far short."
