Sexual assaults are not only not stopping, they are increasing in number and severity in Catalonia. Hospital Clinic Barcelona, one of the main referral centres, treated 665 cases in the first ten months of this year, 6.5% more than in the same period in 2024. 99% of the attackers were men, while 86.9% of the victims were women. The evolution of these numbers underscores an even more tragic drama once analyzed: more and more attacks are occurring in supposedly safe environments, by known people, and with greater frequency, because reports of rape are becoming more numerous. The center’s general director, Josep Maria Campistol, expressed his regret, saying: “Every year it gets worse. We have deep-rooted sexual violence in our society,” considering that it is also a “public health problem.” On November 1, the center treated a maximum of nine people, while the daily average was two people.
The situation reported by the statistics of the Hospital Committee on Sexual Violence and Health has only two positive points: the number of people who go to the hospital on their own initiative in search of help is increasing, and the number of people who come to the center after filing a complaint (12%) or intending to do so (32%) is also increasing. But 28% claimed that they were not in a position to think about determining their next steps, even though all cases that reach the clinic end up being reported to the duty court so that it can activate the judicial process.
The rest of the data is still very vague. From 2025 until October, the largest increase in cases was recorded since 2021. Because 65% of victims were raped (compared to 57.6% a year ago). Because 57% of attacks on women occurred in a home, which was assumed to be a safe place. Because 60% of the aggressors were known; In the case of women, 8.5% of their attackers were partners or former partners.
“The hospital is the tip of the iceberg,” Campstall said, noting that the clinic, which is a reference in treating cases of sexual violence for people over the age of 16 in Barcelona, shows only part of the problem that is increasingly leaving its mark. Four trials on sexual assault charges are scheduled to be held on Monday in a Barcelona court, with a similar number scheduled for the following day. The hospital is asking for more resources so it can properly monitor the problem it described as “crazy” last year.
Gynecologist Maria Ángeles Martinez, co-chair of the clinic’s sexual violence committee, called these numbers “horrific.” Post-traumatic stress, alcohol or drug use results in only 51% of victims being able to fully recall the events. 38.8% of them suffered physical injuries (from beating or hair pulling to fractures and suffocation).
The victim profile is very diverse. The youngest person treated at the clinic was 16 years old (the reference hospital for child sexual assaults is Val d’Hebron) and the oldest was 89 years old. 38% of the attacks were committed against minors under the age of 25, while 29 attacks occurred against minors (a man in one case), i.e. 5% of the cases. 48% were in a recreational context at the time of the attack, which also explains why weekends account for nearly half (49%) of emergency room attendances and the summer months are the busiest. But the last month of October recorded a peak in cases (77, compared to 84 in August and 82 in June).
The number of people coming to hospital is increasing and the speed of their arrival is increasing. 61.8% came in the first 24 hours after the attack, a percentage that rises to 80% when the period is extended to three days.
Physical intimidation was used in 37% of cases. In fact, mass attacks account for 10.2% of the total. In 20 cases more than 3 people participated.
“Immediate treatment is very important, but also in the long term, because of the large number of health consequences, from post-traumatic stress to birth problems,” Martinez explained.
A specialized unit of the Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences, of the General State, has been working since February to speed up the search for evidence in cases of sexual assault when the victim goes to a police station or hospital to report a sexual assault or rape when the events occurred in Barcelona or L’Hospitalet de Llobregat. Once the court on duty has been warned, a forensic expert from this team goes to the centre, where he collaborates with a gynecologist, a psychiatrist and a police investigator. Their mission is to obtain as many biological tests and listen to the victim to reconstruct the facts based on their interpretations. It does this in the first seven days after the attack, when biological evidence can be found.
Phone 016 helps victims of sexual violence, their families and those around them 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, in 53 different languages. The number is not registered on the phone bill, but the call must be deleted from the device. You can also contact via email016-online@igualdad.gob.esAnd via WhatsApp on 016 000 600. Minors can call the ANAR Foundation phone number 900 20 20 10. If it is an emergency, you can call 112 or the phone numbers of the National Police (091) and the Civil Guard (062). If you cannot call, you can use the ALERTCOPS application, through which an alert signal is sent to the police with geolocation..