Fundación Profesor Uría and Uría Menéndez present the first Human Rights Observatory report

Fundación Profesor Uría and Uría Menéndez have presented the new Human Rights Observatory project and its 2024 report. The aim of the Human Rights Observatory is to identify and make visible human rights issues affecting vulnerable groups of people, as well as to analyze the treatment they have received by regulation, courts and authorities. It also makes concrete proposals for practical and legislative improvements.

Focus of the 2024 report

The 2024 report has focused on key issues such as the protection of minors, the rights of migrants and refugees, and the care of those living in situations of social exclusion.

Contributors

The report has been carried out with the outstanding collaboration of Pedro Cruz Villalón, Professor of Constitutional Law and former President of the Constitutional Court, and more than 40 volunteer lawyers from Uría Menéndez. The report rigorously addresses issues such as the deficiencies in free legal assistance for foreigners in return or expulsion proceedings, the barriers to the registration of homeless people and the lack of adequate measures to protect minors in shelters from violence. It also analyzes the situation of stateless or unregistered minors, known as “invisible children”, the shortcomings in health care in detention centers for foreigners (CIE) or the regime of applications for international protection based on gender.

Presentation of the report and round table

The report was presented yesterday at an event that was introduced by José María Segovia, president of the Professor Uría Foundation, with the participation of Pedro Cruz Villalón. His words were followed by a panel discussion moderated by Romana Sadurska, former executive vice-president of the Foundation and promoter of the Observatory, with the participation of Ana Abril, coordinator of Political Advocacy at Cáritas Española; Bernat Domeyó, partner at Uría Menéndez and coordinator of the Report; and José Alberto Navarro, partner at Uría Menéndez and head of the firm’s pro bono practice. Rafael Fuster, Executive Vice President of the Foundation, closed the event.

In the words of José María Segovia Cañadas, President of the Professor Uría Foundation, this report “is a crucial tool to make visible issues that often go unnoticed and to advance in the defense of human rights, reinforcing the necessary guarantees to build a more just society”. Segovia also highlighted the dedication of Pedro Cruz Villalón, whose experience has been key to the development of the project, and the commitment of the lawyers at Uría Menéndez who have made it possible.

Mission and future of the Human Rights Observatory

The Human Rights Observatory, created in 2023, aims to analyze emerging or less explored areas of law, with a special emphasis on those affecting vulnerable groups. This first report, structured in seven chapters, is a milestone in the work of identifying and proposing solutions to the legal and social barriers faced by these people.

Commitment to social justice and human rights

With this initiative, Fundación Profesor Uría and Uría Menéndez reaffirm their commitment to social justice and human rights, offering an approach that combines legal rigor with a firm ethical commitment. Both entities hope that this report will serve as an inspiration to promote real changes and mark with it the beginning of a series of works aimed at improving the living conditions of the most disadvantaged groups through the law.