In Argelès-sur-Mer, France, the Spanish ministers, Ángel Víctor Torres and Sira Rego, met with young people as part of the program "España en Libertad. 50 años", an initiative of the Institute of Youth of Spain. During the event, they highlighted the importance of young people knowing the historical truth in order to strengthen democracy.
The 'Exile Route', in which 40 young people participate, traces the steps of the Republican exile through Navarre, Catalonia and France. Since its inception in Madrid, the participants have visited historical sites such as Fort San Cristóbal and the Gurs Concentration Camp, guided by experts and protagonists of those eras.
Torres emphasized the government's commitment to enforcing the Democratic Memory Law, stressing that youth play a crucial role in the construction of a Spain based on truth and historical recognition. For his part, Rego highlighted the commitment of young people to democratic memory as a tool to strengthen democratic values and to combat hatred.
Carmina Gustrán, the program commissioner, highlighted the link between historical knowledge and current problems, announcing an upcoming exhibition of creative projects carried out by the participants. A new route related to the Desbandá between Málaga and Almería is also anticipated for next year.
The day in Argelès-sur-Mer included a visit to the Rivesaltes Camp Museum-Memorial and a tour of emblematic sites of the Republican exile. The young people listened to testimonies from descendants of exiles and visited the Walter Benjamin Monument in Portbou.
This meeting combined historical memory and institutional commitment, promoting youth participation in the democratic construction of the present and future.
Source: Ministry of Territorial Policies and Democratic Memory.
