The PSIB-PSOE has urged the Balearic Government to speed up the implementation of the three 24-hour crisis centers for women victims of sexual violence, including one in Ibizabefore the end of the year. This initiative was one of the key proposals during the Parliament’s general policy debate, financed with 1.5 million euros from European funds from the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism (RRM). The urgency of this action lies in the fact that these funds must be executed before December in order not to be returned. According to the socialist party, this delay reflects a lack of political will, as the Govern has not yet taken concrete steps to materialize the centers, which are necessary to provide comprehensive and urgent care to victims of sexual violence.
Accessible centers and specialized assistance
The socialists have stressed the importance of these centers operating 24 hours a day and being located in accessible areas to guarantee adequate and confidential attention to women in emergency situations. Furthermore, they have stressed that the centers must offer dignified and professional conditions, adapting to the specific needs of the victims. In the words of the socialist deputy Irantzu Fernandez, “the year is about to end and the Government has not yet taken any steps to implement these European funds, which represent a unique opportunity to guarantee fundamental rights to women in the Balearic Islands”.
Proposal to guarantee equality on all islands
The PSIB-PSOE has also proposed that, if the island councils, responsible for equality policies, do not act in time, the Govern should directly assume the tendering of the projects. This seeks to ensure that all Balearic women, regardless of the island where they reside, have access to these essential services. In addition, the party urges the promotion of awareness campaigns and education in equality, with a special focus on children and adolescents, as preventive measures against gender violence. It has also requested the approval of the II Coeducation Plan and the strengthening of collaboration with associations working for gender equality.
Gender-based violence, a persistent scourge
The PSIB-PSOE has recalled that, according to a 2019 survey, nearly three million women in Spain have suffered physical or sexual violence by a partner at some point in their lives, with more than 374,000 cases reported in the last 12 months. These data reinforce the need for operational and accessible crisis centers in the Balearic Islands.
