Andorra Mandates Criminal Record Checks for Sex Offenses in Child-Facing Roles
Regulation covers public and private workers, volunteers, and data handlers, with annual renewals for volunteers and employer verification responsibilities to prevent abuse.
Key Points
- Andorra mandates criminal record checks for sex offenses for all workers and volunteers with child contact or data access.
- Covers public/private sectors; salaried renew if >1 year old, volunteers annually.
- Employers must verify and monitor certificates; non-compliance bars roles after transition.
- Implements Law 14/2019 and Lanzarote Convention to prevent child abuse.
The Andorran government has approved a regulation requiring criminal record certification for sexual offenses from anyone working or volunteering with regular contact with children and adolescents, or accessing their personal data. Approved by the Council of Ministers on Wednesday, the rule covers public and private sectors, including salaried employees, self-employed workers, academic trainees, qualified professionals, public administration staff, and volunteers.
Salaried workers and trainees must submit the certificate before starting and renew it if more than a year has passed since their last contract. Self-employed individuals need it for relevant activities, while qualified professionals must provide it to their professional college or association prior to practising. Public sector hiring, contracts, and tenders will require the document. Volunteers must renew it annually, with organisations able to cover costs.
Employers and entities bear responsibility for requesting, verifying, and monitoring certificates via record-keeping systems to ensure ongoing validity. Without it, individuals cannot begin or continue in these roles after the transitional period. For those who have lived abroad, the certificate must come from their last country of residence.
Social Affairs Minister Trini Marín noted that many organisations already request such checks voluntarily, but they are now mandatory across the board. The regulation develops Law 14/2019 on children's and adolescents' rights, reinforces government commitments to child protection, and meets obligations under the Council of Europe's Lanzarote Convention by standardising checks to prevent abuse and ensure safe environments.
No specific penalties apply; instead, companies must enforce compliance, raise staff awareness, and face ministry inspections. The Social Affairs department plans a public awareness campaign and will monitor implementation, with potential for further steps.
Current role-holders have one year to comply during the transitional phase.
Original Sources
This article was aggregated from the following Catalan-language sources:
- El Periòdic•
El Govern exigeix acreditar l’absència d’antecedents per delictes sexuals per treballar o fer voluntariat amb menors
- Diari d'Andorra•
Govern obliga a acreditar l’absència d’antecedents sexuals per treballar amb menors
- Altaveu•
Les persones que treballin amb menors hauran d'acreditar absència d'antecedents per delictes sexuals