The Oviedo Bar Association, in collaboration with Unicaja, organised a training workshop on Thursday, 11 December, which addressed the need to guarantee the financial autonomy of people with different abilities. The free online event was attended by around fifty lawyers and was broadcast from the Unicaja Hall at the Bar Association's headquarters.
The workshop was coordinated by the Disability and Elderly Committee of the Oviedo Bar Association, under the title 'Challenges and perspectives in the implementation of Law 8/21 in the banking sector'.
The round table discussion was led by María José García, sixth deputy and chair of the Bar Association's Disability and Elderly Committee, and featured speakers Carlos Rubio, head of the Advisory Area of the Unicaja Network, and Fernando Laserna, senior prosecutor of the Langreo Territorial Section and deputy prosecutor for Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly in Asturias.
During the event, the objectives of Law 8/2021 and the reform of civil and procedural legislation to support people with different abilities in the exercise of their legal capacity were analysed. In addition, the recognition of the figure of de facto guardianship as an informal means of support prevailing over judicial measures was highlighted.
Similarly, mention was made of institutional and banking protocols on this matter, referring to the one signed in 2023 by the State Attorney General's Office, the Bank of Spain and the banking associations AEB, CECA and UNACC, to ensure that these people can exercise their legal capacity in the financial sphere on equal terms.
Reference was also made to the practical application of Law 8/21 in financial institutions, as well as to the exercise of good banking practices and possible challenges and future prospects, among other issues.
Institutional collaboration
The organisation of this round table discussion is part of the collaboration between Unicaja and the Bar Association, as set out in the agreement signed last July, coinciding with the 250th anniversary of the association.
Under this agreement, Unicaja supports the institution's teaching activities and has also given its name to the multipurpose hall where this event was held.
In addition to Carlos Rubio as speaker, the opening of the event was attended by Unicaja's Regional Manager for the North, Iñaki Pradera, who stated that "we want to work hand in hand with institutions that generate value in our territories" and, on this point, he highlighted "the important work" carried out by the Oviedo Bar Association. He thus affirmed that "both institutions are committed to the continuous improvement of the legal profession and the progress of Asturias."
On behalf of the Bar Association, its dean, Antonio González-Busto, highlighted the collaboration provided by Unicaja to the group it represents, supporting the training activities carried out by the association. He therefore expressed his confidence that "the collaboration will continue to be implemented over the coming years".
