GENEVA - Independent human rights experts* today urged Spain to approve the draft bill on "stolen babies" under parliamentary review since 2020, thereby upholding the right to truth, justice, reparation and guarantees of non-repetition for the victims of the so-called theft of babies in Spain since 17 July 1936.
"Despite the pain and mounting evidence of the harm suffered by mothers and families due to so-called theft of babies in Spain, the lack of a comprehensive legal framework has prevented the State from offering an effective response to the victims of these crimes, which often encompassed enforced disappearance," the experts said. "The proposed law seeks to end that silence by establishing real mechanisms for truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-repetition."
The bill includes key measures such as the creation of a national register of victims, ensuring access to archives and public records, providing free DNA testing, the establishment of a special investigation unit, and the legal recognition of the wrongful removal of children from biological families and subsequent falsification of documents and enforced disappearance as a crime against humanity.
It also aims to provide free psychological and legal assistance for families, mandating public awareness campaigns, and strengthening cooperation between regional administrations and judicial bodies.
The bill was originally submitted in 2018 and was taken into consideration in 2020. Final amendments and approval have been subject to multiple postponements until today.
"For decades, thousands of Spanish mothers and families have been deprived of the right to know the truth about the fate and whereabouts of their children, often victims of enforced disappearances," the experts said.
"Ultimately, this affects society as a whole. As we commemorate the International Day of the Rights of the Child, we call on Spain to seize this opportunity to do right by the victims and society at large and advance the approval of this crucial law."
The experts have shared these concerns with the Government of Spain.
