Seven years after the social uprising of October 2019, only 28 procedural relationships ended with a conviction within the framework of 1,885 court cases for violations of the rights of children and adolescents during that period, according to a new report by the Children's Ombudsman's Office.
The document, prepared as part of the monitoring of guarantees of non-repetition, establishes that the investigations comprise 2,320 procedural relationships, of which 2,184 are concluded, equivalent to 94% of the total. However, only 28 ended with a conviction, which represents approximately 1.3% of the concluded relationships.
Among the remaining ones, 1,061 ended with a provisional dismissal and another 434 with a decision not to persevere, records that, according to the agency, demonstrate the need to delve deeper into the existing difficulties in clarifying the facts and determining responsibilities for the violations that occurred during the 2019 mobilizations.
The Children's Ombudsman, Anuar Quesille, stated that "Seven years after the social uprising, the State still has pending obligations to the children and adolescents who suffered violations of their rights. The records show that a significant portion of the investigations ended without reaching a court ruling and that there are still situations that require attention in current police procedures."
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Seven years after the social uprising of October 2019, only 28 procedural relationships ended in a conviction within the framework of 1,885 court cases involving rights violations of children and adolescents during that period, according to a new report by the Children's Ombudsman's Office. The document, prepared as part of monitoring the guarantees of non-repetition, states that the investigations comprise 2,320 procedural relationships, of which 2,184 are concluded, equivalent to 94% of the total. However, only 28 ended in a conviction, representing approximately 1.3% of the concluded relationships. Among the remaining ones, 1,061 ended in a provisional dismissal and another 434 with a decision not to proceed — records that, according to the agency, demonstrate the need to delve deeper into the existing difficulties in clarifying the facts and determining responsibility for the violations that occurred during the 2019 mobilizations. The Children's Ombudsman, Anuar Quesille, stated that "Seven years after the social uprising, the State still has pending obligations to the children and adolescents who suffered violations of their rights. The records show that a significant portion of the investigations ended without reaching a court ruling and that there are still situations requiring attention in current police procedures."
Institutional violence: 525 minors registered as victims in 2026
The report also addresses the current situation of the rights of children and adolescents. According to records from the Public Prosecutor's Office analyzed by the Ombudsman's Office, 525 minors were registered as victims of alleged crimes associated with institutional violence between January and September 2026. The figure is equivalent to 97% of what was recorded throughout 2025, although the institution noted that the two periods are not directly comparable.
In its work observing police procedures, particularly during student mobilizations, the agency identified concerns about the justification of investigative identity checks, reports of excessive use of force during detentions, and difficulties for adolescents to effectively understand their rights. Added to this are problems related to timely access to specialized criminal defense and delays in the Public Prosecutor's Office's instructions to the police, which can unnecessarily prolong the stay of adolescents in police facilities.
The document also recognizes favorable protection practices observed at the 48th Family and Childhood Affairs Police Station of Carabineros, highlighting the importance of strengthening and extending the procedures that adequately safeguard the rights of children and adolescents. In this context, the Ombudsman's Office raised the need to examine the application of the legislation on Rules for the Use of Force, recently passed by Congress, especially regarding the use of potentially lethal weaponry and the reinforced protection of minors.
"The guarantees of non-repetition do not consist solely of enacting new laws or updating protocols. We must ensure that, in practice, institutions act respecting the rights of children and adolescents. Security and respect for human rights must advance together," Quesille emphasized.