Ten men have been tried at the Provincial Court of Álava from September 26 to October 3 for sexual abuse of minors cared for in the Sansoheta center of the Provincial Council of Álava. Victims have waited six years after the complaint in 2016. According to a study by the Ertzaintza in this section, seven boys and girls between the ages of 14 and 17 were prostituted by ten men seated in the chairs of the defendants. Four of them have accepted the crimes on the first day of the trial to alleviate the penalty: they declare that they “paid for having sex” with minors, state that they are “repentant” and promise not to repeat themselves again. They have reached an agreement with the prosecution and have passed prison sentences of 1 to 13 years. The other six must wait for the sentence and may have a sentence of up to 29 years.

In fact, they attribute to the defendants the crimes of corruption, sexual abuse, pornography to minors and crimes against public health. But here and there we have seen different ways to define aggression: paid sex, sexual abuse, prostitution, hiring minors for sex through a web... When the case came to light, professionals in the sector reported that several media used “sensationalism” and that they did not guarantee the protection of minors in the treatment of information. The consequences have now been confirmed by the victims themselves, who have stated that at first they felt “guilty” about what happened. The young people have made it clear that at that time they were not aware of what was happening, and that it has taken time to understand that they are victims, not guilty. They explain that this awareness has caused them pain in their lives.

It should be remembered that these young children were in the custody of the Diputación de Álava and lived in the Sansoheta center during the time they were abusing sex. However, the Member has not noticed any errors in her performance, and the authorities insist that both the prosecutor’s office and the judges have ensured that the Member has no responsibility, which has been used to wash his hands. The General Representative of Álava, Ramiro González, stressed that the crimes were committed “outside the center” and that “unfortunately” the same can happen to young people and people who are monitored and not monitored. It is significant, however, that at the time of the emergence of the issue a controversy arose about the deficiencies of the centres dependent on the deputies. The unions ELA, LAB, CCOO, ESK and UGT strongly criticized not only Sansoheta, but also the “negligent” management of the Bidebria centers and the “indifferent behavior” of the administration. In 2016, 20 people lived in Sansoha, where he was ready for ten. This issue has shown that minors, especially those who need more protection, are unprotected in this system; justice has found those guilty, but those responsible are more.