8 children’s shelters closed amidst growing outrage

The board of directors of the National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and the Family ( Senniaf ) – which has been declared in permanent session – asked Senniaf to immediately close the shelters nationwide that,  have incurred “very serious offenses “ in accordance with the provisions of current regulations.

Consequently, it is necessary to proceed with the transfer of the children and adolescents who are located in said facilities. This was raised by the board of directors at the third meeting held to deal with complaints about irregularities in shelters in the country.

The directors also urged the National Supervision and Monitoring Committee to supervise the shelters at the national level “urgently”, based on the principle of the best interests of the child and adolescents, through the technical teams of the different institutions that comprise it. Thus, reports and recommendations can be issued to the Senniaf board of directors so that the necessary measures are taken.

Mayra Silvera , director of Senniaf, said Tuesday, February 16, that 8 shelters have been closed, of the 51 identified nationwide. Silvera said that similar measures “are going to continue”, energetically, in case anomalies are found in these places.