The Alavesa Council has opened a criminal case against the organizing association of the Bernedo camps

The Provincial Council of Álava has initiated a criminal case  against the Basque Summer Camp Association Sarrea, which organizes the camps in Bernedo (Álava), against which 21 complaints have been filed so far for sexual assault, exhibitionism and coercion of minors participating in them.

This was stated by the General Representative of Álava, Ramiro González, during his appearance on Monday at the General Meetings of Álava, at the request of the People's Party.

Gonzalez has announced that the foral institution has opened a punitive file on the association after revealing "two serious breaches of the obligations" of the regulation.

   
Firstly, failure to comply with the duty of prior communication of the activity to the competent department of the Provincial Council of Álava and, secondly, failure to comply with the obligation to facilitate the inspection functions of the competent administration, that is, to provide the documentation which was required of it and which "did not respond". This file shall be subject to appropriate administrative processing.

Activity not registered with the Provincial Council of Álava

Ramiro Gonzalez has explained that since the Provincial Council learned of the summer colonies on 15 September, through a message sent by a mother, "the activity has never been registered with the Provincial Council of Álava or communicated to the Department of Youth", so "the activity was unknown ".

It has also stated that "from the outset, the priority of the Department was to provide care for families, to know directly the situation created in the Bernedo camp and to respond with institutional responsibility", and "to provide the Public Prosecutor's Office with all the administrative documentation gathered on the case".

"There has been concern, involvement and activity and it has been done as quickly as possible, always in the best interests of minors, "he said.

Gonzalez explained that "over the years there have been colonies and practices that have been absolutely unacceptable, in some cases, and in view of the facts we have known, they can be a crime. " "These camps should not have been conducted in this way, according to family complaints," he added.

For this reason, Gonzalez has advocated "investigating to the bottom" and "acting with the utmost transparency" to "transmit all information to the public" and "inform the courts of any situation in which any indication of a crime can be detected", as "the Council has done".

Interinstitutional table

On the other hand, the General Representative of Álava has stressed that a table has been set up between the three Member States, Eudel and the Basque Government to 'improve coordination and control mechanisms' in the field of private leisure activities, itinerant walks, camps and shelters.

In this regard, it reports ontheidentification of "the priority need for regulatory development of certain points of the Basque Youth Act", such as prior communications, responsible statements, services and facilities, and disciplinary regulations.