Reports of sexist violence within couples in Catalonia continue to increase significantly year after year, especially after 2020 and Covid. From January 1 to October 31, the Mossos d'Esquadra have investigated 14,187 complaints, 9.6% more compared to the same period in 2022, and 6,056 men have been arrested, which represents an increase of 13.2% compared to the same period in 2022. from last year. The most reported crimes are domestic abuse, with 36.8% of the total; threats, 22.8%; broken sentence, 14.3%, and habitual physical or psychological violence, 8.3%. In fact, breaking a sentence is one of those that increased the most, 17%, but harassment increased even more, with 62% more, and sexual harassment, with 38%.
This year, a total of 13,278 women have reported being victims of sexist violence at the hands of their partners or ex-partners, of which minor victims represent 4.4% (585).
The age groups that have suffered the greatest increase in 2023 are the group between 46 and 50 years old, with an increase of 19.7%, followed by the group between 51 and 60 years old, with an increase of 19.7%. 18.9%. But the age groups with the most victims range from 21 to 50, with close to 70% of the victims.
With respect to minor victims, a decrease of 4.1% is detected, specifically in those between 0 and 11 years of age. The children of women in situations of gender violence are also included as victims in the complaints when they receive it directly (assaults) or indirectly (observers) from the aggressor. During 2023, 12,140 perpetrators of criminal acts in this area have been arrested or investigated, which represents an increase of 8%. Regarding arrests alone, they increased by 9.2%, going from 5,545 to 6,056. Arrests of minor perpetrators have decreased by 21.9% compared to the same period in 2022.
The age range of male perpetrators of crimes in the field of gender violence (investigated and arrested) with the highest percentage is 31 to 50 years old. They represent 60% of the total. It is a range that coincides with that of the victims who report. The age range of minor perpetrators is between 14 and 17 years old, the average age of the minor perpetrator of gender violence is 16 years old.
As of October 31, 12 women, between 26 and 72 years old, have been murdered at the hands of their partners or ex-partners, five more than during the same period last year. A trans woman was also murdered by her partner, and a 79-year-old woman died at the hands of her youngest son. None of them had a judicial or police protection measure in force. In nine of the 14 cases, the environment was aware that there were situations of conflict and/or violence in the relationship. In all cases, the perpetrators of the murder were arrested a few hours after they committed the crime. The detainees are between 28 and 77 years old.
Thirteen of the crimes occurred at the victim's home and one was committed inside a hotel room. In this case, the victim and alleged perpetrator were in Catalonia on vacation. Thirteen of the murdered women lived with the alleged perpetrator at the time of death and in one case there was no coexistence. In 12 cases, the victim and perpetrator were a romantic partner. Four of the women had minor children. Eight minors have been orphaned.
In three of the 14 cases, the victims had suffered abuse from previous partners. In nine of the 14 cases, the environment knew that there were situations of conflict and/or violence in the relationship. In none of the 14 cases are there complaints from previous partners against the alleged perpetrators. Therefore, no persistent aggressor has been detected.
Harassment, with a growth of 62.8%, and broken sentences, with 17.6%, draw an ascending line in crimes that have a direct impact on women who suffer violence. Sexual crimes also registered an increase of 38% this year (654 incidents reported this year compared to 475 last year).
