The Spanish Ombudsman, Ángel Gabilondo, appeared this Monday, at his own request, before the Joint Committee on Relations with the Ombudsman to give an account of the work carried out so far on the mandate of the Spanish Parliament to draw up a report on allegations of sexual abuse in the Catholic Church.
During his speech in Parliament, Gabilondo assured that the Institution will work ‘with rigour, seriousness, determination and responsibility’. Thus, the Ombudsman stressed that the mandate approved by the Parliament, with a large majority, ‘is a call to society and to the institutions, based on the pain and experience of the victims and those who have been accompanying them’.
Ángel Gabilondo stated that the Institution is taking on the mandate ‘without any preconceptions and with a great opportunity to study in depth what happened’. As he explained in his speech to the deputies and senators who make up the Joint Committee, its aim is ‘to compile proposals, measures, changes and initiatives in a report that will make amends to the victims and prevent something like this from happening again’. In his opinion, ‘no country can remain paralysed or move forward without reflecting on how its children have been treated, nor can any public or private institution look the other way if it has had knowledge of such serious situations’.
Areas of action
In order to comply with the mandate, the Ombudsman has identified three areas of action in which to work: an Advisory Committee of experts, a Forum for Dialogue with victims’ associations and a Technical Unit for victim care and investigation support. Its task will be to ‘determine facts and responsibilities, propose procedures for reparation to victims and promote prevention measures and action protocols to prevent this from happening again’.
The Ombudsman’s Office will set up a section on its website with relevant information about the Commission. It will offer a free telephone number and a web form for victims to contact the Technical Unit. In addition, the possibility of submitting testimonies in person or by post will be made available.
