Madrid, April 8, 2024.- The Minister of Youth and Childhood, Sira Rego, announced today her support for allowing young people from the age of 16 to have the right to vote in the next general elections in Spain. “If young people want to vote at 16 in the next elections, they will have my support,” she said in her appearance before the Youth and Childhood Commission of the Senate.
Rego emphasized that several European countries already allow people of this age to vote, both in the European elections that will be held on June 9 and in other elections. Extending the voting age for youth “means recognizing their political rights, expanding their rights,” she assured.
Rego advocated “the incorporation of youth participation in the design of public policies, in the design of our country.” In this regard, the minister recalled the commitment of the Ministry of Youth and Childhood to promote the first Youth Law of Spain “in a participatory manner and with the involvement of young people.” In addition, the ministry will continue to work on the main challenges facing youth, such as employment, precariousness, housing, and mental health issues.
In terms of childhood, Rego urged all political forces to work towards a “State Pact for the eradication of child poverty.” The minister reminded that Spain has a child monetary poverty rate of 28.9%, which has barely changed over the years. It is a complex problem that requires action from both the central government and the Autonomous Communities (CCAA). “We all need to sit down and make an effort to understand each other,” she affirmed.
The minister stressed that the data shows that social transfers “work” and advocated for promoting a universal child-rearing income, increasing the coverage of the Minimum Vital Income, and deploying the Housing Law to reduce rental prices.
Another priority is the fight against violence against minors, particularly through the comprehensive development of the Organic Law for the comprehensive protection of childhood and adolescence against violence (LOPIVI), in coordination with other ministries. Rego also highlighted the creation of a working group focused on vicarious violence.
The minister reiterated her aim to achieve an "intergenerational country agreement" for the construction of safe digital environments for minors. The group of 50 experts created by the ministry is working on a diagnosis of the situation, a roadmap, and proposals for short, medium, and long-term measures. The final goal of the Ministry of Youth and Childhood is to promote the Comprehensive Safe Digital Environments for Childhood and Adolescence Law included in the 2024 Annual Regulatory Plan.
Rego also indicated that work is underway, within the framework of the Sectorial Conference and in collaboration with the CCAA, to promote family fostering in all its forms as the first option in the care of children in the protection system in the different territories.
Regarding migrant children, Rego highlighted the work done by her department since the beginning of the legislature. This includes a December allocation of 20 million euros, intended for the CCAA and Ceuta. “Our intention for 2025 is to increase this allocation,” she said. Additionally, various scenarios of legal reform have been studied, and the government is working on an amendment to Article 35 of the Organic Law on Foreigners.
“I would like to be clear and reiterate, on behalf of the Ministry of Youth and Childhood, our commitment to a distribution of minors among all the CCAA, where the State also assumes its responsibilities, always prioritizing the protection and best interest of the minor,” affirmed the minister.
Automatically translated with OpenAI from Spanish