UN calls on Spain to fulfill 'obligation' to process culprits of Franco-era crimes

Spain must "fulfill its obligation" to extradite or prosecute those responsible for Franco-era crimes, the United Nations insisted this week.

While Spain's decision to exhume dictator Francisco Franco's body from the Valley of the Fallen is a "positive step," more needs to be done, said Fabián Salvioli, the UN's Special Rapporteur on the promotion of truth, justice, reparation, and guarantees of non-recurrence.

"Full reparations for all of the victims, not obstructing lawsuits filed in other countries, and fulfilling the obligation to extradite or prosecute those responsible," are among the actions the Spanish authorities must take, Salvioli told the Madrid media.