The Government of the Canary Islands has stated that it is still "waiting" for the Government of Spain to detail how it will comply with the reception of the more than 1,000 minor asylum seekers who are on the islands, as the Supreme Court urged ten days ago, and despite the allegations made about the lack of capacity of the network.
In this regard, the general director of Child Protection of the Government of the Canary Islands, Sandra Rodríguez, pointed out in statements to EFE that now it will be the Supreme Court that must give a response to that extreme, after both administrations have given an account of the actions carried out, the progress and their capacity.
The local press has reported that the Government of Spain has informed the Supreme Court that its asylum network cannot accommodate unaccompanied minors because it is designed for adults.
The Supreme Court, Rodríguez added, will have to respond to the writing presented by the Government of Spain and recalled that the order of the High Court includes that necessary cooperation, each from their own competences, "and we have to wait".
The general director insisted that the matter will also be addressed in the sectoral conference on Childhood scheduled for next week in which she hopes that a solution and response will be given for minors seeking international protection.
"The State has to guarantee access and permanence in the national reception system for minors who have applied for international protection. And it is the State that must say how it is going to comply with it," Sandra Rodríguez stressed.
Regarding the dialogue between both administrations, Rodríguez indicated that what was expressed in the meetings between them is still valid and that what has been conveyed to them is that the Government of Spain intends to comply with the order, "being aware that it is not easy", expressed the general director, who insisted that until now the Canary Islands has supported this situation "alone".
Rodríguez insisted that it is now up to the Government of Spain to take the next steps and to explain how they are going to enforce the rights of minors to ensure their best interests.
