News

Exorcising the aggressor

Specialised services are available for victims of gender violence and the service will be extended in 2019; so far help has been given to 5,143 victims

A total of 4,306 women have reported being victims of gender violence from their partners, the relatives, and social or community sources in the first quarter of this year. A scourge that is on the increase, and in all social classes, but there is also a demand for resources on the part of women who want to overcome the influence of the aggressor in their lives. This is one example of the role of the Specialised Intervention Services (SIE), which was charged with implementing the Catalan law 5/2008 to offer a comprehensive recovery to female victims of gender violence as well as for their children, in psychological, labour and legal ambits. Catalonia’s eight SIE units assisted 4,166 women and 977 children in 2017.

While experts praise the work of the units, there are criticisms that they do not extend across the whole country and at times there is a certain “rivalry” between the SIEs and local bodies and welfare services offering similar services.

The Generalitat director of Family Welfare, Roser Galí, maintains however, that each service has its role: many focus on “information” and the SIEs on “therapy”. In addition, she says, “the Generalitat can not impose policy on local entities nor their priorities,” as they are more aware of local issues and needs.

For 2019, the Genralitat Welfare department plans to extend the service with not only more centres, but also services, such as assistance to teenage girls in conflictive relationships but without the resources or knowledge to escape from the situation they are in. The law has also been extended to assist children without the need to gain parental consent in extreme cases.

Sign in. Sign in if you are already a verified reader. I want to become verified reader. To leave comments on the website you must be a verified reader.
Note: To leave comments on the website you must be a verified reader and accept the conditions of use.