Equality meets with UN Women after the agency's interest in protection measures for victims of male violence in the context of COVID-19


The Ministry of Equality, after the approval of Royal Decree 463/2020 on March 14, which declared a state of alarm for the management of the situation of the health crisis caused by COVID-19, launched a Plan for Contingency against gender violence in this emergency situation. The Contingency Plan developed a series of strategic and operational measures to help prevent, control and minimize the possible negative consequences in the lives of many victims of gender violence as a result of the containment measures.

As part of the contingency plan, reinforced with the approval of the RDL, all comprehensive assistance services for victims of violence against women were declared an essential service. In this way, both the telephone number of 016 and online consultations have continued to function normally 24 hours a day, every day of the week. 016 was also joined for the first time by a chat service through instant messaging with psychologists who are experts in gender violence for emotional and psychological support.

Requests for help from assistance services for victims of gender-based violence (calls and online consultations at 016 and WhatsApp service) total 29,700 during the state of alarm, an increase of 57.9% (10,892 more requests) compared to the previous year. In the same period of 2019, from March 14 to June 20, the women attended were 18,808.

Calls 016

If we compare the period of the alarm state, from March 14 to June 20, 2020, with the same period of 2019, we see an increase of 41.4% in calls to 016. While the number of relevant calls from 14 From March to June 20, 2019 it was 18,682, from March 14 to June 20, 2020 there were 26,417, a difference of 7,735.

Calls to 016

Online inquiries 016

Regarding online consultations, if we compare the alarm period, from March 14 to June 20, 2020, with March 14 to June 20, 2019, the increase is 457.9%. While the number of consultations from March 14 to June 20, 2019 was 126, the number of consultations in the same period in 2020 has been 703, that is, 577 more consultations.

Online inquiries to 016

Emotional and psychological care

Regarding the emotional and psychological care service via WhatsApp, since it was launched on March 21 it has received a total of 2,580 queries. This service, which has remained active during the entire state of alarm, with its termination becomes face-to-face again. An automatic warning message has been established to notify women who can still continue to contact him, and his diversion to 016, 016 online and a link to the website of the Government Delegation Against Gender Violence with the resource map of each locality, so that they can obtain detailed information on on-site services.



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