Congresswoman Files Criminal Complaint with Attorney General’s Office: Urgent Meeting Regarding Scandal at Tocumen Juvenile Detention Center

The Minister of Social Development, Beatriz Carles, convened an extraordinary session of the board of directors of SENNIAF for Monday, February 9, following the reported incidents at the comprehensive care center located in Tocumen.  Congresswoman Alexandra Brenes filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office against the director of SENNIAF, Ana Fábrega.  Monday’s meeting aims to review what happened and make immediate decisions. 

The complaint describes risky conditions for children and adolescents in state custody, including cases of tuberculosis without isolation capacity, accounts of alleged sexual abuse, and episodes of self-harm that resulted in hospitalizations. The Ministry of Social Development (MIDES) states that protecting the best interests of children and adolescents is non-negotiable.  They warn that any sign of irregularity that puts minors in state custody at risk, will be investigated, and that they will fully and transparently cooperate with the relevant authorities. 

Prior to this call, it was a recommendation to implement concrete measures to strengthen institutional protocols, in order to guarantee effective care and real protection for children and adolescents under state responsibility.  The National Secretariat for Children, Adolescents and Families (SENNIAF), created under Law 14 of January 23, 2009, is a decentralized public entity with administrative, financial, and technical autonomy.

Its function is to coordinate and implement comprehensive child and adolescent protection policies in the country.  The board of directors is composed of the Ministers of Economy and Finance, Health, Education, and Labor, the Comptroller General of the Republic, and two representatives from the National Network for the Support of Children and Adolescents. Now, they are all under pressure to provide clear answers.