Catalonia once again becomes the epicenter of controversy after a new case of sexual violence reignites the debate on immigration management and the protection of minors under guardianship. Mossos d'Esquadra arrested a 23-year-old Moroccan man accused of raping a teenage girl under the Generalitat's custody during the Festes del Tura in Olot (Girona) this Tuesday.
The attack took place last September 6, around one o'clock in the morning, near the concert area of the local festivities. The victim, who was outside the designated festive area, reported the incident, which initiated an investigation that culminated in the arrest of the suspect around three o'clock in the morning this Tuesday. The individual will be brought before the judicial authorities in the coming hours.
The General Directorate for the Prevention and Protection of Children and Adolescents (DGPPIA) has announced its intention to appear as a private prosecutor. In addition, it has activated institutional support protocols: the minor is receiving support from the Residential Center for Educational Action (CRAE) where she resided and from the Barnahus service, specialized in psychological and legal assistance for victims of sexual abuse.
The case has not only shaken public opinion due to the seriousness of the events, but also because of the political and budgetary background. According to VOX, the Generalitat spends up to 50,000 euros (110,231 pounds) per year for each unaccompanied foreign minor (mena), a figure ten times higher than the barely 5,000 euros (11,023 pounds) invested in the education of a Catalan student in public school.
