(MissionNewswire) Salesian Missions Madrid has received the “Youth Justice without Borders” award from the International Observatory on Juvenile Justice. The international award highlights organizations that focus on human rights. Salesian Missions Madrid was chosen for its assistance to children living in situations of exclusion, poverty, violence and abuse. Fellow awardees include the Center for Legal Studies, psychologist Dr. Alessandro Padovani, Professor Terrie E. Moffitt and Professor Dr. Barry Goldson.

“This award is a very important recognition of the work we do as a Missions Office and together with Salesian missionaries across the world for children and young people. The protection and education of the most vulnerable children is our purpose. We are grateful for awards like this, which continue to give us energy to continue our mission,” explained Father José Antonio San Martín, head of Salesian Missions Madrid, after receiving the award.

The International Observatory on Juvenile Justice is a public service foundation based in Brussels, Belgium. Since 2002, the organization has been working for the rights of children and young people at risk of social exclusion, especially those in conflict with the law or immersed in the cycles of youth violence and delinquency. The main objective of the organization is to promote fair and borderless juvenile justice.

The International Observatory on Juvenile Justice serves as a platform for the creation of shared knowledge that aims to promote the improvement of juvenile justice systems and policies. It also works to implement international standards in the field and foster the skills of professionals in the sector as well as highlight innovative practices.

“The winners of this edition of the awards are an example of the values ​​that this recognition seeks to promote, that is, broad and exceptional professional work that contributes to the progress of juvenile justice systems and the protection of the rights of children and young people all over the world,” said Francisco Legaz, director of the International Observatory on Juvenile Justice.

Hard hit by the current economic troubles in Europe, Spain has the third highest rate of income inequality of the countries of the European Union. The richest 1 percent of the Spanish population accounts for a quarter of the national wealth, according to the World Bank. It also notes that 10.2 million people in Spain live below the poverty line, equivalent to a poverty rate of 22.3 percent.

Close to 37 percent of young Spanish workers under the age of 25 are unemployed and a growing number of them can’t afford to buy enough food to live. Poor youth with few employable skills struggle the most to find and retain stable employment. Women in Spain face inequality in the workforce. They earn up to 14 percent less than men and represent only 34.5 percent of those listed as the highest earners in Spain.

Salesian missionaries have been working for many years to provide educational and workforce development opportunities for poor youth and women in Spain through residential and technical and vocational training programs.

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Sources

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ANS – Spain – “Misiones Salesianas” receives “Juvenile Justice without Borders” award

World Bank – Spain