Description
This commitment has been submitted to the Open Gov Challenge as part of Spain’s 2025-2029 action plan, under the “Participation in Policy” category (Milestone 1.7.2).
Explore the full action plan: https://www.opengovpartnership.org/documents/spain-action-plan-2025-2029
Background
The Spanish Constitution recognises the right of association of children and adolescents as a fundamental right. The Convention on the Rights of the Child recognises the right of children to form associations. The development of specific regulations on children’s associations is already provided for in the Ministry of Youth and Children’s 2024 Annual Regulatory Plan. Annual Regulatory Plan 2024 of the Ministry of Youth and Children.
What is the problem/need that the initiative aims to resolve?
The objective is to fill the current gap in relation to the possibilities for persons under the age of 14 to form associations, as well as a limitation on minors under the age of 12 in student associations.
Brief description
Development of specific regulations that provide a minimum framework for forms of association for children throughout the country. Although this is a regulation of the General State Administration, the various regulations currently in force on this matter in several autonomous communities must be taken into account.
Objectives
- Specific regulations
- Adaptation to children’s cognitive abilities
- Establishment of specific obligations
How does the initiative contribute to solving the problem or meeting the need?
There is a legal vacuum regarding the possibilities for people under the age of 14 to form associations, as well as a restriction on children under the age of 12 in student associations. When children form associations and have tools, rights and autonomy at their disposal, they can achieve great personal and collective challenges and contribute to a better society.
Relevance to open government values
The initiative reinforces the values of citizen participation and civic space, as there is an obligation on the part of public authorities to listen to children, which includes attention to forms of collective representation and specialised bodies.