A call to end violence against children

Benalmádena has thrown its full support behind the safety, rights, and wellbeing of its children, to mark International Children’s Rights Day.

The event focused on adoption and fostering as key solutions in the fight against childhood violence.

The town’s Social Welfare Councillor, Áurea Peralta, took to the stage with a call to action. “This day is an opportunity to raise awareness in schools and across society about the need for every child to be protected, safe, healthy, and educated, no matter where they’re born or where they come from,” Peralta said.

Peralta made it clear that this fight is a collective responsibility. “The challenges facing children and adolescents require coordinated responses, from a global to a local level. This is not just a task for governments but also for schools and communities,” she stressed.

As highlighted by the councillor: “385 million children around the world are living in extreme poverty. 264 million children aren’t in school, and last year, 5.6 million children under the age of five died from preventable causes.” The statistics may be staggering, but it’s the impact of violence on children that was the most worrying part. “It’s vital we act before that damage is done,” she said.

As part of the discussion, Peralta turned the spotlight on two life-changing solutions: fostering and adoption.

In a deeply emotional moment, a foster family shared their personal experience, discussing the joys, struggles, and rewards of adopting and fostering. Their powerful testimony left the audience in awe, showing the real-world impact of giving innocent children a chance at a better life.

Find more news about the Costa del Sol.

Find more Spanish news in English.