Benidorm condemns with a minute of silence the latest confirmed femicide in Barcelona
The number of women killed by their partners or ex-partners has risen to 32 so far this year and to 1,373 since 2003.
Gender violence has already left 22 children orphaned in 2016, a figure that rises to 532 since 2013.
Benidorm City Council observed a minute of silence at noon today, Thursday, to express its condemnation of the latest femicide confirmed by the Ministry of Equality in Spain. The crime was committed in Barcelona on July 28. The silent vigil took place in front of the City Hall and was attended by members of the municipal corporation, led by the mayor, Toni Pérez, and the Councillor for Equality, Ángela Zaragozí.
The victim was a Brazilian woman, and her alleged attacker was a 43-year-old Spanish man. The woman had a son and a daughter, both minors, and there were no prior reports of domestic violence against the alleged attacker, who murdered her with a knife in the presence of her two children.
With the confirmation of this case, the number of women murdered due to gender-based violence in our country has risen to 32 so far in 2016 and to 1,373 since 2003, when this data began to be collected. Gender-based violence has also left 22 children orphaned this year and 532 since 2013.
The Department of Equality reminds the public that the Benidorm City Council has specialised staff available to provide free advice to any woman who feels threatened. They also reiterate that victims of violence against women can call the free helpline 016, which does not appear on phone bills, although it is advisable to delete it from mobile phone call logs. This service is available 24 hours a day, every day of the year, in 53 languages, and has a service adapted to people with disabilities.
Victims can also use online consultation services via email:
016-online@igualdad.gob.es, the WhatsApp channel at 600000016, and the online chat accessible from the Ministry of Equality's website, all of which operate 24/7.
In an emergency, you can also call 112 or the National Police (091) and the Civil Guard (062). If making a call is not possible and you are in a dangerous situation, you can use the ALERTCOPS app, which will send an alert to the police with your geolocation. All these support services can be activated by the victim and also by anyone who knows of or suspects a case of gender-based violence. It is a duty of all of society.