The counselor of Nueva Canarias (NC) in the Island Council of Lanzarote, Daisy Villalba, this Thursday questioned the counselor of Social Welfare, Marciano Acuña, about the ownership of the future 24-hour Crisis Center for sexual assaults in Lanzarote, established by the State Law of Guarantees of Sexual Freedom, which the Government of the Canary Islands has announced will be up and running before the end of the year.
According to Villalba, "Lanzarote urgently needs this 24-hour service that provides psychological, legal, and social care to victims. The reason for these centers is to constitute a place where women feel safe, cared for, and advised with the aim of providing immediate attention both by telephone and in person 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."
The Canaristas mention that, according to information known through the Canarian Institute of Equality, the bidding process to purchase the property "has already begun and it is expected that it will have a multidisciplinary team that develops a work of prevention and comprehensive care for any sexual violence." However, NC says, "it is unknown whether the center will be managed by the government of the Canary Islands itself or will be assumed by the Island Council, since this issue will be vital to foresee resources, personnel, and planning."
"It is vital that the island has this 24-hour Center, which would represent an advance in the protection of victims and help for their families. We believe that this center should be accompanied by policies of prevention and sexual education and gender equality," says Daisy Villalba.
