Current situation of registration in Catalonia
During the month of May 2023, several front-line organizations in Catalonia raised their voices denouncing the attitude of 35 councils which, according to their claims, were hindering the registration of people in a situation of social exclusion.
Entitats Catalanes d’Acció (ECA), after a year, continue to focus on this problem, criticizing the reluctance of some local governments to facilitate the registration of fictitious addresses, an option provided by law for special situations .
Fictitious domiciles: a necessary alternative
The registry law, despite establishing the fixed domicile as a general rule, allows registration in alternative domiciles in cases where a permanent residence cannot be determined. These fictitious homes, designed for people in situations such as informal rent or homelessness, are a crucial tool to guarantee their rights.
Registration in these fictitious addresses is not only a right and a duty, but also access to other essential services such as health or education.
Response from councils and challenges
According to Lluís Puigdemont, from ECA, only Barcelona generally applies this option in Catalonia, despite the fact that many other municipalities could benefit from it. The reasons for this reluctance vary from lack of knowledge to the desire to maintain a specific pattern of inhabitants.
In addition to councils that are unaware of the legislation, there are others that act deliberately to limit access to the municipality, according to Puigdemont. This attitude, he complains, not only affects the people affected but also represents a setback for society as a whole.
Monitoring and future actions
After the initial complaint, ECA continues to monitor the councils and plans to submit a new report at the end of May to assess progress. With this, they hope to pressure local governments to fulfill their obligations and respect human rights.
Although they prefer a dialogic approach, they do not rule out resorting to legal action if non-compliance persists, Puigdemont assures. In short, registration may seem like a minor issue, but its repercussions on people’s lives are significant.