July marks a tragic high point in a dark chapter in the history of the Canary Islands: never before have the archipelago’s authorities recorded so many calls relating to gender-based and domestic violence. The emergency helpline set up specifically to deal with violence against women received 1,932 calls in the space of 31 days.
This means that the Canary Islands have ended the month with an average of 62 calls for help from women regarding various forms of gender-based violence. This is the highest figure recorded by the helpline and the service behind it since its inception.
One in eight calls to the Canary Islands‘ emergency helpline was therefore made by women who felt unsafe or under specific threat. Compared with the same period last year, this represented an increase of 9.5 per cent. The head of the service warns against viewing the problem purely in statistical terms.
Canary Islands: More emergency calls due to violence against women
A good six in ten calls to the helpline were triggered by specific emergency situations – that is, by women who felt they were in immediate danger – prompting the helpline to alert the police or other emergency services. The emergency services were called out 224 times in cases of abuse against women. 42 women and 28 accompanying minors were taken to shelters such as women’s refuges. In July alone, 1,127 police officers had to be deployed in the Canary Islands in response to gender-based violence, and a further 84 emergency service personnel were mobilised.
The authorities in the Canary Islands report an increase in domestic violence and similar offences during the holidays. „During this period, the risk increases for women and minors living with an abuser,“ says Ana Padrón, director of the Canary Islands Institute for Gender Equality. The expert adds: „And the figures are alarming.“
Despite the well-known seasonal spikes, Padrón says she sees no specific reason to explain the recent increase compared with last year. She says the main cause is always „a violent man“ – and that this is a problem that remains constant throughout the year.
To avoid normalising behaviour such as this, it is important that violence against women is not forced into a rigid framework. Whilst it is clear that certain periods of the year lead to more cases of violence against women, there should nevertheless be no attempts to rationalise the issue when discussing abuse and physical or psychological violence.
The Canary Islands are seeing an increase in violence against underage women
It is also striking that more minors are using the women’s helpline. Offences against under-18s increased significantly in July. The 32 calls from victims represent a 28 per cent increase, according to the helpline’s managers. The next age group, those up to 55 years old, accounted for 782 calls. Women in the over-56 age group made just under eight per cent more calls than previously.
In 1392 cases, the perpetrator was a former partner; a further 183 cases were instigated by children, other family members or strangers. Four in ten assaults were acts of general violence, which is roughly the same number as cases of psychological abuse. Sexual violence and rape account for one in every 20 cases.
Despite all the concern, Padrón also sees a positive trend: „What gives us cause for optimism is that it is no longer just the woman concerned who is calling, but also people from her circle.“ Around one in four calls for help came from a third party.
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