The Attorney General's Office has ordered immediate comprehensive protection measures for children and adults with disabilities residing in a shelter currently under investigation following complaints of possible violations of their fundamental rights.
Among the measures adopted is an explicit prohibition against the accused individuals approaching the victims or the places where they are located, as well as a ban on any act of psychological, verbal, physical, or patrimonial aggression, and any form of direct or indirect contact with those affected.
According to the official communiqué, the Ministry of Social Development (MIDES) was also instructed to implement the necessary administrative measures to ensure strict compliance with these provisions, prioritizing the best interests of the victims and their special condition of vulnerability.
These measures will remain in effect while the investigations are ongoing. The authorities reminded that the shelter houses minors and adults with disabilities, which obligates the State to act with priority to safeguard their physical, psychological, and social integrity.
Urgent Technical Inspection
As part of the action plan, an extraordinary meeting was held from 10:00 a.m. until approximately 3:00 p.m., during which it was agreed to conduct an immediate technical inspection by an inter-institutional and specialized team to verify the actual situation of the shelter.
The commission is composed of personnel from MIDES, the Ministry of Labor and Labor Development (Mitradel), and the National Network for Childhood and Adolescence, among other entities.
Around 4:00 p.m., the arrival of official and private vehicles at the facilities was observed, and their teams remain on-site conducting the evaluation.
Among the aspects under review are the infrastructure conditions, the physical and psychological health of the residents, and the presence of adults with disabilities who may require transfer to other institutions with specialized care.
Possible Transfers and Supervision
Another measure under consideration is the transfer of adults with disabilities to suitable centers that guarantee specialized care, in addition to institutional supervision and the administrative evaluation of the shelter's management.
The authorities indicated that they have the legal power to order these movements, accompanied by direct supervision and the corresponding formal documentation.
Through the Attorney General, Luis Carlos Gómez, the Prosecutor's Office reiterated that no person can exert acts of pressure, aggression, or contact with the victims while the investigations to clarify the facts and determine the possible responsibility of authors or accomplices proceed.
The main objective, they emphasized, is to guarantee the security, dignity, and well-being of the minors and adults with disabilities who are in a state of special vulnerability.
