The Government of the Canary Islands has launched the crisis intervention center for victims of sexual violence in Lanzarote, specializing in urgent care for victims of sexual assault, offering psychological, legal and guidance support from the outset.
This news comes after the Canarian Institute of Equality authorized in January the acquisition of a premise in Arrecife to assist victims of sexual violence. This resolution is part of the project to create comprehensive care services that seek to assist victims of sexual assault and will be open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This was published in the Official Gazette of the Canary Islands. The chosen property is located on Blas Cabrera Topham Street.
Meanwhile, the Cabildo de Lanzarote has managed to strengthen its network of public resources and collaboration with specialized entities in order to guarantee "a comprehensive and effective response to one of the most urgent social realities".
The President of the Cabildo, Oswaldo Betancort, stresses that the fight against gender violence is a political and moral priority, since "we are talking about the life and dignity of women and their sons and daughters. From the Cabildo we will not spare efforts or resources to ensure a rapid, professional and humane response. This fight requires institutional unity, technical commitment and a clear message to the whole society: we do not tolerate gender violence in any of its forms".
Among the main actions implemented during this mandate, the consolidation of the Island Women's Care Service (SIAM) stands out, a multidisciplinary team that provides psychological, social and legal care to women who have suffered gender violence.
The service has been recently reinforced with the incorporation of a new psychologist and the launch of a group care program, promoting spaces of security, mutual support and emotional reconstruction.
The Minister of Social Welfare and Inclusion, Marci Acuña, has valued the comprehensive response offered by the island system, stating that the work of the Cabildo "is not limited to care in critical moments. We want to accompany each woman in her process of empowerment and recovery, with resources in the short, medium and long term. We want them to know that they are not alone, that they have the right to a life free of violence and that there is a public system that is on their side, with committed professionals and strategic alliances that make a comprehensive approach possible".
Network of resources and alliances
In the area of emergency, the Cabildo maintains active and reinforced essential resources such as the DEMA (Emergency Device for Abused Women), operating 24 hours through 112, offers immediate care in situations of gender violence; the Immediate Reception Center (CAI), where safe shelter is guaranteed to women and minors at risk, when their physical or psychological integrity is threatened; the Reception Center, a residential resource for recovery and autonomy processes, especially in cases that require a longer stay;
Likewise, the Cabildo de Lanzarote also strengthens its network through alliances with local administrations and social entities with experience in caring for women in situations of special vulnerability. These include Médicos del Mundo, which works with women in contexts of prostitution or sexual exploitation; the Mararía Association, which manages several protected accommodation and support resources; and + Familia, through the agreement signed with the Arrecife City Council, for direct care to women victims of gender violence in the capital.
The Cabildo has stressed that "these collaborations are key to ensuring a coordinated and effective response throughout the island territory". The Department of Social Welfare and Inclusion also insists on the importance of prevention and awareness as essential tools to eradicate this form of structural violence.
The Cabildo's commitment translates not only into direct assistance, but also into training actions, awareness campaigns and public policies with a gender perspective. "We will continue working with determination to consolidate a solid and empathetic island network, which puts women and their children at the center. Our responsibility as an institution is not to fail them," concludes Marci Acuña.
