Dirección General de Prevención y Protección a la Infancia y Adolescencia (DGPPIA)

The Dirección General de Prevención y Protección a la Infancia y Adolescencia (DGPPIA) is the child protection agency of the Generalitat (Catalan government). It is responsible for safeguarding the welfare of children and adolescents within the region. The DGPPIA is currently newsworthy due to a recent case involving a six-week-old baby in Barcelona who suffered severe abuse and sexual assault. The baby was admitted to Hospital Vall d’Hebron with critical injuries. Following the arrest and imprisonment of the parents, the DGPPIA has assumed guardianship (tutela) of the infant. The agency's role now involves ensuring the child receives appropriate medical care, protection, and a safe environment, while investigations into the circumstances surrounding the abuse continue, extending beyond the immediate family.