Amnesty International has criticized the Spanish State for still not effectively investigating the Melilla fence tragedy that occurred in 2022, in which at least 37 migrants died, and for making no progress in the investigations into the use of Pegasus spy software against political figures. and members of Catalan civil society, in their annual report The situation of human rights in the world for the year 2023.
The report also points out that gender violence against women and girls persisted last year, positively values the new legislation to guarantee the right to housing but regrets that it does not protect vulnerable people from eviction and criticizes the fact that "crimes" were unduly attributed. of imprecise wording to restrict freedom of expression and peaceful assembly". Likewise, he understands that the measures adopted to combat the climate crisis were positive but "insufficient."
The report recalls that in July, the UN Committee against Torture urged the authorities to carry out a thorough and independent investigation into "the illegitimate force" used by the police in June 2022 when repressing the crowd trying to cross into Melilla. . In addition to the 37 dead, the organization points out that a few hundred more "were illegally expelled" during the operation.
AI emphasizes that the Attorney General's Office closed the investigation into the events in December 2022, arguing that the police officers had acted in accordance with national legislation.
On the other hand, Amnesty warns that no one was able to cross the Melilla border to request asylum in 2023, according to official sources cited and adds that in a report published in April about her visit to Spain in 2022, the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe pointed out the lack of access to an agile and effective asylum procedure throughout the country. "Many of the people who requested it had to wait at least six months until their first interview, during which time they risked being expelled," denounced the NGO, which also regrets that unaccompanied minors who arrived in the Canary Islands were detained. next to adults and did not receive sufficient protection.
Regarding what is known as Catalangate, Amnesty recalls that in May an investigation by the European Parliament confirmed that the Pegasus program had been used against at least 65 people, including journalists, political figures and members of Catalan civil society. In this sense, AI reprimands the Spanish authorities that "there was no progress" in the investigation of at least 13 lawsuits for the use of spyware filed before various Spanish courts.
The NGO adds that in July, due to the lack of cooperation from the Israeli authorities, the National Court provisionally closed the investigation into the use of the Pegasus spy program against the president, the Minister of Defense and the Minister of the Interior.
However, just yesterday it was learned that the judge of the National Court José Luis Calama has reopened the case after finding a new line of investigation thanks to the French authorities. And the French country has sent the instructor an investigation carried out in 2021 into multiple infections of the phones of journalists, lawyers, ministers and deputies with the Pegasus software. The judge understands that the comparison of the technical elements collected in the French investigation with those obtained by the National Cryptological Center in the expert analyzes of the infected devices of the President of the Government and the three ministers may allow progress in the investigations.
The report also highlights a number of human rights challenges, including persistent problems and the need for more effective measures to address them. Thus, for example, it indicates that violence against women and girls persists, with a high number of cases of femicides. Furthermore, the lack of help centers for victims of sexual violence continues to be a problem. Regarding sexual and reproductive rights, it appreciates that a law was approved that allows access to abortion without parental consent for those over 16 years of age.
Regarding housing, AI appreciates that a law was passed to limit rental prices and protect tenants but maintains that there are still challenges in terms of evictions of vulnerable people and access to adequate housing. At this point he makes a reference to the Madrid neighborhood of Cañada Real, where 4,500 people, including 1,800 minors, continued to live without access to electricity after the disconnection in 2020.
The organization also values the entry into force in March of the Trans law that protected the rights of LGBTI people, as it guaranteed access of trans people to health services and legal recognition of gender identity based on self-determination. and prohibited conversion therapies, but regrets that at the end of the year the Madrid Assembly approved regressive legislation that, among other things, "prohibited the recognition of gender identity based on self-determination and restricted educational initiatives to promote LGBTI rights".
Regarding the right to health, the organization observes a decrease in investment in public health, which affects accessibility to primary care services.
For Aminsitía, concern persists about the use of force by police forces, including cases of injuries and deaths, such as that of a man in Barcelona in November 2021 at whom the regional police had fired several electric shocks with a gun. Taser. The NGO also expresses concern about "undue restrictions on freedom of expression", fines for protesters and journalists, as well as cases of police infiltration into social movements "using intimate and sexual relationships as cover."
AI also regrets certain "irresponsible arms transfers" and despite confirming that arms export licenses to Israel are suspended, a high number of licenses previously granted are revealed.
