Since the massive arrival of irregular immigrants in Ceuta on July 30, there have been 21 sexual assaults, according to the records held by Pedro Sánchez’s Government. From the Congress, the Minister of Equality, Ana Redondo, has reported that nine of the victims are minors and are being attended to.
“According to the Prosecutor’s Office data, we have recorded 21 sexual assaults: five with penetration and one attempted. Five assailants are under investigation: two North Africans have been expelled, two Spaniards are being investigated, and one European citizen is also under investigation,” the Minister of Equality stated.
However, the Prosecutor’s Office counted 23 sexual assaults since July 30 as of this Monday. Nevertheless, the minister emphasized that the data “are changing, they are dynamic” and therefore she could not provide a “categorical figure.” According to sources from the Prosecutor’s Office to EFE, to date, the state security forces have identified eight alleged perpetrators, of whom four are Moroccan, three Spanish, and one Belgian, with the rest of the assailants remaining unidentified.
On the other hand, the minister assured that after the activation on August 4 of the contingency plan by the Government Delegation against gender violence, specific monitoring of calls and communications to 016, the phone number set up for situations of violence against women, has been carried out, “especially those coming from women in Ceuta.” “There have been 16 relevant calls, 4 WhatsApp inquiries,” although “none linked to the migration crisis,” she stressed.
Similarly, in collaboration with NGOs, the Ministry has provided information about the 016 service in the places where women and girls are currently located, aiming for them to know this resource that operates in 53 languages.
Redondo, who appeared at her own request in Congress, condemned “with absolute firmness the assaults suffered by minors and girls in Ceuta,” while assuring that the Executive is “fully aware of the violence that has been exerted on women and girls during this crisis.”
Thus, the Minister of Equality defended that her department has worked “since the first week with entities present in Ceuta to detect the barriers that may prevent women from asking for help.”
Redondo’s appearance closes the round of explanations provided by members of the Council of Ministers about the crisis in Ceuta. Next Thursday, September 3, the head of the Executive will appear before Congress to offer his explanations as well.
