Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which takes place this Saturday, 25th November, the Catalan Mossos police have taken stock of the number of complaints and cases of sexist violence that they have dealt with so far this year. The data shows that, year after year, allegations of gender-based violence continue to rise. Specifically, with respect to 2022, reports of violence within couple settings have increased by 10%.
From January 1st to October 31st, the Mossos d'Esquadra investigated a total of 14,187 complaints, 9.6% more compared to the same period in 2022, and 6,056 men were arrested, which is an increase of 13.2% compared to last year. Does the increase in complaints represent an increase in violence? Not necessarily, because, since awareness-raising policies have been implemented around gender-based violence and its various expressions, there have been more complaints. There is violence, yes, but also a social change that prompts it to be reported more.
Complaints to the Catalan police for sexist violence (2013-23, for January to October period)
14 women murdered in Catalonia
Despite the higher reporting rate, there are still many cases of sexist violence that end in murder. In the first 10 months of this year, 14 women have been murdered in Catalonia. Of these, 13 were killed by partners, and one by a family member. According to the Mossos, in nine of the 14 cases the family was aware that the women were experiencing sexist violence. In none of these cases had a complaint been filed, nor had any judicial or police protective measures been imposed.
The Mossos police note: "Breaches of sentence conditions, without anything else occurring beyond that, are used as coercion against the women concerned as a way of causing psychological damage."
Breaches of sentence conditions are rising
The Mossos' statistics show the crimes in the area of male violence that are most frequently reported. The most common offences which the Catalan police receive complaints about is "abuse within the home", which accounts for 36.8% of the total, "threats" (22.8%), "breaches of sentence" (14.3%) and "regular physical or psychological violence in a family setting" (8.3%). Of these most frequent complaints, the breaching of sentence conditions - regarded as a form of psychological violence against the woman, even if no other action occurs - is the offence that has increased the most, by 17%. In fact, in 2023, some other serious complaints, less frequent in absolute numbers, show even larger percentage increases - sexual assault complaints have increased by 38% in a year, while stalking complaints have risen by 62%.
What is the age range of those who register complaints of sexist violence?
Gender-based violence is being denounced by women of all ages. However, in some age groups it is reported more. For example, so far this year a total of 13,278 women in Catalonia have reported being victims of sexist violence at the hands of their partners or ex-partners, of which victims aged under 18 represent 4.4% (585). The age groups in which the most significant increase has occurred in 2023 compared to 2022 are those between 46 and 50 years old, with an increase of 19.7%; followed by the 51 to 60 age group, with an increase of 18.9%. But the age groups with the most victims are from 21 to 50, with nearly 70% of the victims.