35000 victims of gender violence in Spain so far in 2019

National Police in Spain have assisted nearly 35,000 victims of gender violence so far in 2019. 

The Secretary of State for Security, Ana Botella, has said that the battle against gender violence is a priority issue for society and that Spain is leading the way in tackling the issue. 

The Family and Women’s Care Unit, (UFAM) which specialises in gender, domestic and sexual violence, has identified 54,860 victims of these crimes and arrested almost 41,000 people. 

These figures were revealed today (November 20) at the Canillas Police Complex in Madrid, which was presided over by the Secretary of State for Security, Ana Botella. During her speech, Botella said that “the fight against violence against women is a priority issue for society and, in this sense, Spain is an international reference.” 

She added that the Law on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender Violence “marked a milestone from which things became different and not only different, but also better, and has provided us with an instrument to fight against a scourge that is very complex.” 

The event was also attended by the Director General of the National Police, Francisco Pardo Piqueras and the police officers of the units directly involved in the fight against violence against women. 

According to UFAM data, during the first 10 months of 2019, there was an increase of almost 10 per cent in the crimes of gender violence, domestic violence and sexual violence compared to the same period in 2018. 

In total, 62,797 crimes related to these three types of violence were reported, which represents 3.57 per cent of all crimes committed in Spain. 

Of this amount, 40,477 were for gender violence, that is to say, for the violence that a man exerts against a woman when a sentimental relationship exists or has existed between them. 

For domestic violence, which is defined as violence within the family in any direction – except for men and women where there is a sentimental relationship – 16,759 cases were registered, while 5,562 cases of sexual violence (forcing someone to take part in sex acts against their will) were recorded, 7.81 per cent more than in the same period of the previous year. 

In this period of 10 months, the National Police made a total of 40,919 arrests in the area of competence of UFAM, 7.68 per cent more than in the same period last year, which means that two out of every 10 arrests in Spain are for crimes committed against the family or against women. Of this figure, 27,733 were for crimes of gender violence. 

UFAM has recorded 54,860 victims of crimes that are within its scope 8.8 per cent more than in the same period of 2018.