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The Spanish Constitution references the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, writing that Spanish law is to be interpreted "according to the United Nation's Convention of the Rights of the Child of 20 Nov 1989." The constitution guarantees the rights of minors according to the Convention as "the public entity shall conform its action to the present law and the mentioned international convention [on the Rights of the Child]."

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Organic Law 5/2000 of January 12, - provides for a legal counsel for the juveniles in conflict with the law.

Artículo 22. De la incoación del expediente.

1. Desde el mismo momento de la incoación del expediente, el menor tendrá derecho a:

a) Ser informado por el Juez, el Ministerio Fiscal, o agente de policía de los derechos que le asisten.

b) Designar abogado que le defienda, o a que le sea designado de oficio y a entrevistarse reservadamente con él, incluso antes de prestar declaración.

c) Intervenir en las diligencias que se practiquen durante la investigación preliminar y en el proceso judicial, y a proponer y solicitar, respectivamente, la práctica de diligencias.

d) Ser oído por el Juez o Tribunal antes de adoptar cualquier resolución que le concierna personalmente.

e) La asistencia afectiva y psicológica en cualquier estado y grado del procedimiento, con la presencia de los padres o de otra persona que indique el menor, si el Juez de Menores autoriza su presencia.

f) La asistencia de los servicios del equipo técnico adscrito al Juzgado de Menores.

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The Convention on the Rights of the Child Committee welcomes the adoption of the Organizational Act 5/2000 of 12 January on penal responsibility for minors and its educational character, but notes that it would need additional human and financial resource to be implemented effectively. It further notes with concern that the Organizational Act 7/2000 on terrorism increases the period of police custody and the length of prison terms for children accused of terrorism (to up to 10 years). It expresses its concern also at the fact that deprivation of liberty is not used as last resort and that in some cases detention centres are overcrowded.

The CRC Committee recommends that the State party:

(a) Allocate adequate human and financial resources in order to ensure the full implementation of the Organizational Act 5/2000;

(b) Align the period of police custody for children accused of terrorism with the provisions of the Act and review the length of prison terms for children accused of terrorism;

(c) Provide training on the new juvenile system to those responsible for administering juvenile justice;

(d) Encourage the use of alternative measures to the deprivation of liberty.