The number of complaints of gender violence in our city has stabilized in the second half of the year, as can be seen from the data released today by the Head of the Coordination Unit against Violence Against Women, Laura Segura.
The Head of the Unit, who appeared before the media to report the situation of Gender Violence in our city, mainly during the second quarter of 2024 and the data we have from the months of July, August and September until today, has explained that the first quarter closed with 70 complaints, an increase of 6% compared to the first quarter of 2023, where 66 complaints of gender violence were registered.
And the second quarter ended with 75 complaints, which means the same number of complaints filed in the same period last year. With regard to the distribution of complaints by month, there were 19 in April; 29 in May and 27 June. And the month of July closes with 34, and 24 in terms of this month of August, data that is pending to be closed.
Regarding the analysis of the use of existing State services on gender violence in the city of Melilla, Segura has explained that, since the launch of the Telephone Service on Information and Legal Advice on Gender Violence 016, in September 2007 and until June 30 of this year, 2069 relevant calls have been received in Melilla.
“Since January 1 and until June 30, a total of 77 calls have been received, with 49 calls registered in the same period of the year 2023, which represents an increase of 57.1%,” he said.
As for the second semester, it closes with 35 calls at 016, compared to 27 calls received in the same period of the year 2023, which represents an increase of 29.6%. There were 68.57% of the calls made by the user herself and 22.8% by relatives or close associates, and 8.5% by others or not.
To the 77 calls received in the first two quarters are added 21, received in the month of July, which is the last month published, being 98 in total this year, he explained.
As you have indicated, 21 calls were registered in July compared to the 18 calls that were registered in the same period last year, which represents an increase of 16.67%. And there are 18 calls made by the users themselves.
It has also highlighted that, since March 2021, calls to 016 include those related to other forms of violence - in addition to those related to gender violence - since violence in a couple or ex-couple also includes sexual violence in that area.
At the same time, it has highlighted that, according to the rest of the consultation modalities - via WhatsApp, Emails and Chats -, the number of pertinent queries made since the start of the services, is 2,122 and so far this year they rise to 107, since to the relevant calls would be added 6 queries via WhatsApp and 3 through chat.
ATENPRO and VioGen
In her speech to the community media, the Head of the Unit provided data on the number of users of the Telephone Service for Care and Protection for Victims of Gender Violence (ATENPRO) in the second quarter of 2024.
Thus, in the month of April there were 20, in May, 21; and in June, 20. In the month of July, which is the last month for which there are data, there would be 19 active users, which represents an increase of 35.7% compared to the 14 female users with this service in July 2023.
As for the active cases in VioGén, according to the data published on the website of the Ministry of the Interior in its monthly statistics, the active cases in April were 224; in May, 227; in both June and July, 226; and 241 in August.
According to the data extracted from the monthly statistics of the Ministry of the Interior of the last month published, the month of August 2024, to the 241 cases active in the VioGén System in Melilla as of August 31, 2024, we must add the 2,280 cases inactivated from 2007 to this date, which makes a total of 2,521 total cases and 2,338 total victims in our City from 2007 to the present.
Regarding the distribution by risk levels, the active cases of unappreciated risk would be 111; low risk, 107; medium risk, 23; and no case of high or extreme risk.
Of these active cases, 150 are cases involving minors, of which 26 are in a vulnerable situation and none at risk. In addition, there are 13 cases of special relevance.
“At the moment, we have 244 active cases and no high or extreme risk, the rest of the cases being mostly medium, low and not appreciated,” said Segura.
Police Protection and Protective Orders
Regarding the number of women with police protection, Segura has indicated that the evolution by months during this second quarter of 2024 has involved 110 women with police protection in the month of April; 115, in May; 116, in June; and 127, in July.
As for the number of protection orders and measures for gender violence, according to data from the General Council of the Judiciary, as of March 31, from January to March 2024, a total of 25 orders were registered, of which 23 were adopted and 2 were denied.
Regarding the number of inmates who have served sentences in penitentiaries with crimes of gender violence, the evolution of inmates by months in this second quarter has translated into 20 in April; 19 in May; 18 in June; and 19 in July.
With regard to the granting of temporary residence and work permits for foreign women victims of gender-based violence per year of resolution, in the second quarter of 2024, three temporary residence permits were granted in May. That along with those granted in the first quarter and those granted in July add up to 10 residence permits.
The Head of the Unit has referred to the fact that in Melilla there have been no fatalities due to gender violence since 2016, accounting for 5 women killed since 2005.
However, today in our country there are 1,279 women killed by gender violence since we have official data and this year 35 women have been killed by their partners or former partners and there are 24 children orphaned and orphaned by gender violence.
He also recalled that 10 minors were killed, victims of vicarious violence and 63 since 2013, when the number of murdered minors began to be counted.
Some figures, he stressed, “terrible and unbearable that show that gender violence”. “It must be considered as the main problem that we have as a society and it is fundamental to insist, once again, that in the fight against gender violence, the involvement and awareness of all citizens is key,” he concluded.