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Spain establishes state-led reparations process for victims of church sexual abuse
From April 15 a new protocol lets people abused by Catholic or other religious figures seek reparations overseen by the Ombudsperson, but the deal omits fixed compensation scales and covers cases otherwise unable to reach court.
Mar 30th 2026 · Spain
Insights
- Protocol takes effect on April 15 and places the Ombudsperson as the arbiter of reparations
- Victims whose cases are time-barred or whose abuser is dead can apply for state-mediated compensation
- The agreement does not include fixed minimum or maximum compensation scales as victims requested
- The Defensor del Pueblo produced a 2023 report estimating 1.13% of adults suffered religious‑sector abuse, while the Church recognises about 2,000 potential claimants and other studies estimate nearly 3,000
- The mechanism will run for one year with case reviews taking about five to seven months and can be extended if needed
- Signatories included the minister Félix Bolaños, Ombudsperson Ángel Gabilondo, CEE president Luis Argüello, and religious conference president Jesús Díaz Sariego