The Baix Ebre Regional Council in Tortosa has started construction on a new Barnahus centre, designed to provide comprehensive care for child and adolescent victims of abuse and mistreatment. The facility, which aims to prevent re-victimisation, will allow children to recount their experiences once in a secure, supportive environment, with coordinated professional assistance.
Antoni Gilabert, president of the Baix Ebre Regional Council, stated that the project represents “a different way of doing things to better protect children and prevent them from having to relive painful situations.” He added that the goal is for children to “feel heard, accompanied, and cared for with all the sensitivity they require.” The initiative addresses a local need and is part of a model based on inter-administrative and service coordination.
New Approach to Child Protection
Gilabert explained that the Regional Council “was clear from the outset that it had to be part of the project, because the territory needed it and because it fits with how we understand public responsibility.” The new building will be located on land provided by the Baix Ebre Regional Council on Carrer Barcelona. Construction is funded by Next Generation EU and is expected to finish in 10 months.
The project has a budget of €1.5 million. The facility will have an approximate built area of 400 m². This initiative continues the Regional Council's work in social services, focusing on creating suitable spaces for supporting and intervening with children and families. An example of this is “La Caseta” (The Little House), another Regional Council project set to open in 2027.
Inter-administrative Collaboration
Gilabert highlighted the collaboration between administrations that made the project possible. He stressed the importance of continuing to promote useful, dignified, and adaptable public services. The groundbreaking ceremony was also attended by Raúl Moreno, Secretary General for Social Rights and Inclusion; Teresa Llorens, Secretary for Life Cycles and Citizenship; Joan Castor, Government Delegate in Terres de l’Ebre; Javier Sánchez, Territorial Director of Social Rights in Terres de l’Ebre; Mar Lleixà, Mayor of Tortosa; and Sergi Curto, Vice-President of the Baix Ebre Regional Council.
