The Care Service for Women Victims of Gender Violence (SAMVV) of the Government of the Canary Islands, through 112, attended a total of 1,386 women victims of gender violence in Lanzarote during the year 2024, according to its activity report. This figure represents 7.92% of the total demands attended in the Canary archipelago, consolidating the island as the third most affected by this problem.
The report reveals that most of the cases in Lanzarote were registered in the municipality of Arrecife, with 793 incidents, followed by Yaiza (197), Tías (173), Teguise (119), San Bartolomé (78), Tinajo (18) and Haría (8). These data reflect the need to continue reinforcing resources and attention throughout the island, especially in those locations with a high number of cases.
To face this reality, during the year 2024, 212 emergency resources were mobilized in Lanzarote, including police and health devices. In this sense, the report highlights that 84 mobilizations of health resources were carried out for assistance to victims.
According to the report, most of the incidents registered in Lanzarote corresponded to cases of physical violence without sexual assault, followed by non-physical violence and consultations related to gender violence. In addition, 126 emergency incidents were registered, 88 of them categorized as high risk.
“Due to all these data, a 24-hour Crisis Intervention Center is a key tool for the protection and assistance of victims of sexual assault. And for this reason, from the Government of the Canary Islands and the Cabildo of Lanzarote we insist on the importance of reporting and accessing all available resources”, concludes the counselor Marci Acuña.
24-hour Crisis Center for victims of gender violence
The Councilor for Social Welfare and Inclusion of the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Marci Acuña, held a working meeting this week with the director of the Canarian Institute of Equality (ICI), Ana Isabel Brito, to continue working on the implementation in Lanzarote of a 24-hour Crisis Center that will open its doors soon on the island.
“This future Lanzarote 24-hour Crisis Center is designed so that women victims of gender violence have a permanent resource, which allows them to find immediate assistance in any emergency situation, thus reinforcing the island network of services aimed at victims”, detailed the counselor Marci Acuña.
The 24-hour Crisis Center is an assistance and specialized resource of the Government of the Canary Islands, free of charge, which will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and whose objective is the prevention and comprehensive and interdisciplinary care within the framework of sexual violence. These spaces will provide care to women who suffer an assault and require support.
The Canarian Institute of Equality has the collaboration of the Cabildo of Lanzarote for the implementation of this new resource. The general director of the ICI, Ana Brito, has highlighted the effort that has been carried out by the organization she directs to have these centers, for which they have already acquired properties on islands such as Gran Canaria, Tenerife and Fuerteventura.
