The Ombudsman, Soledad Becerril, met today with relatives of Spanish nationals serving sentences abroad, to explain the powers and functions of the institution in this regard and the work that it does for them.
About 30 people with relatives or friends held in prisons abroad attended the meeting which was organized by Fundación +34, an institution that helps Spanish nationals abroad in a situation of need.
The Ombudsman explained that Spanish consulates are responsible for providing Spaniards incarcerated in foreign prisons with assistance and that the task of the Office of the Ombudsman is to make sure that prisoners receive the visits and help required from the consulate, especially as regards access to medication and information about their procedural and penitentiary situation.
The Office of the Ombudsman can also try to speed up the transfer to Spain of prisoners who have already been sentenced and carry out actions of a humanitarian nature, for the purpose of which it receives the invaluable help of its counterpart institutions in foreign countries.
In recent years, Soledad Becerril and various staff from the institution have visited Spanish prisoners in some 15 countries to enquire about their situation.
In May 2015, the institution presented a report on the situation of Spanish prisoners abroad which was debated in the Spanish Parliament. The report, which analysed the situation in 27 countries, included recommendations for Spanish nationals in prison abroad who lack financial resources to give them access to free legal aid.
The Institution also recommended the creation of penitentiary guidance and legal assistance services in consulates in Latin America; the reinforcement of personal and material resources in consulates that attend to a larger number of prisoners, and that communication channels between relatives and consular authorities be improved.
The Head of assistance for prisoners at the Spanish Consulate in Sao Paulo (Brazil), Jaime Arderius, attended the meeting held at the headquarters of the institution and informed relatives of the steps taken by his consulate.
The chairman of Fundación +34, Javier Casado, explained the work carried out by the organisation, which is currently working with the autonomous regions, thanked the Office of the Ombudsman for its work and interest, and encouraged relatives of prisoners to submit complaints so that the institution can monitor closely the prisoners’ personal, procedural and penitentiary situation.
