The 24-hour telephone service of the Institut Balear de la Dona (IB Dona) handled a total of 4,562 calls related to gender-based violence in 2025, representing an increase of 22.2% compared to the previous year, according to the annual report of this organization.

Continued attention to women victims of gender violence can make a before and after in their emotional health. This is evidenced by a study by the association Endavant, which concludes that this support reduces depression and stabilizes anxiety one year after starting the programs of the Institut Mallorquí d’Afers Socials (IMAS).

The new Deputy Director of Operations (DAO) of the National Police, Chief Commissioner José Luis Santafé – until now the Chief Superintendent of Police in the Balearic Islands – made it clear during his swearing-in ceremony that the force investigates "to the fullest extent" any abuse, misconduct, or irregularity that may occur within its ranks. He reaffirmed his commitment to protecting victims of sexual assault or harassment, but warned that "generalizing" and suspecting the entire institution and its leadership is "extremely dangerous." In the presence of the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska; the Deputy Secretary of State, Aina Calvo; the Director General of the Police, Francisco Pardo; the entire police leadership; and the Director of the National Intelligence Center (CNI), Esperanza Casteleiro, as well as representatives of the armed forces and police unions, the Chief Commissioner emphasized that the Police is an "extraordinary, loyal, modern institution at the service of Spain."

The National Police have arrested a man in Palma for allegedly abusing and sexually assaulting at least five women, one of whom was a minor at the time of the incidents. The judge has ordered his pretrial detention while the investigation continues. According to the Balearic Islands Police Headquarters, the incidents were investigated by agents of the Family and Women's Unit (UFAM) following initial complaints from two women. One stated that, years earlier, she had been drugged and subsequently sexually assaulted. The second victim explained that she had been in a relationship with the arrested man, during which she suffered continuous psychological abuse. The police investigation led to the identification of three more victims. Two reported waking up on several occasions in the alleged perpetrator's home, naked, bruised, and with no memory of what had happened.

The 27-year-old woman who died in Palma in early February of last year did not die from a drug overdose, as initially suspected, but was allegedly asphyxiated by her partner, according to sources close to the investigation. Although initial indications pointed to a possible death by drug abuse, the autopsy and subsequent forensic tests have determined that the young woman died of asphyxiation, which has completely redirected the police investigation. Following these new findings, the police arrested the victim's partner on Monday as the suspected perpetrator of homicide. He is a 42-year-old Spanish national who remains in police custody awaiting a court appearance. According to the same sources, he is not expected to appear before the duty judge on Wednesday, so he could be brought before the judge on Thursday. The Ministry of Equality confirmed on Tuesday that the case has been officially classified as a gender-based violence crime. This is the 47th murder of a woman in Spain in 2025 and the second to occur in Mallorca last year. Both the victim and the alleged perpetrator were registered in the VioGén monitoring system, although the reports of gender-based violence were related to previous relationships they had with other people. Following the confirmation of the gender-based crime, the Balearic Government has called for a minute of silence at noon this Wednesday in front of the Presidency headquarters, at the Consulate of the Sea in Palma, as a show of institutional rejection and support for the victims of gender-based violence.

A man has been arrested as the suspected perpetrator of several crimes, including sexual assault, battery, and unlawful detention, after allegedly raping and assaulting a woman in Palma. The events occurred on December 16, according to the National Police. Latest NewsThe victim explained that she met the alleged assailant while walking down the street, and he offered to let her use his mobile phone. The woman agreed to accompany him to his home, but there, according to the complaint, she was held against her will, sexually assaulted, and beaten in the face and body while the man threatened her with a knife. The woman managed to escape and ask for help at a nearby bar, where the National Police began their investigation to identify the alleged perpetrator. Two weeks later, the 29-year-old Spanish national was located in the Son Gotleu neighborhood. During the arrest, a struggle ensued when he tried to pull out a knife, according to police sources. The arrested man faces charges of sexual assault, assault, unlawful detention, identity theft, and resisting arrest, and has been remanded in custody pending trial.

The National Police have arrested a man in Palma for allegedly attempting to kill his partner by stabbing her multiple times. The arrested man has been brought before a judge and remanded in custody. According to the Regional Police Headquarters, the incident occurred last Saturday when paramedics alerted the National Police that a woman was at a hospital after being stabbed by her partner. Upon arriving at the scene, officers interviewed the victim, who explained that her partner had prevented her from leaving the house and that, at one point, he locked the front door, grabbed a kitchen knife, and stabbed her repeatedly in various parts of her body, including her arms. After a struggle, she managed to escape and called a relative to accompany her to the hospital. When the police learned of the incident, several National Police patrols were dispatched to the residence. Upon arrival, they found the garden gate open and, after knocking several times on the front door, the man answered. The suspect, in a state of shock, confessed to the crime and stated that the knife was in the kitchen. The National Police officers confirmed that the weapon was indeed there. Therefore, they arrested him as the suspected perpetrator of attempted homicide. Following the arrest, the Family and Women's Unit (UFAM) of the National Police took charge of the investigation to clarify the facts and provide assistance to the victim. The officers found no prior reports filed by the victim. It is important to remember that women who are victims of gender-based violence and those around them can contact the IBDona 24-hour service by calling 900 178 989. The victim support line 016 is also available, and in case of emergency, 112.

The 31-year-old man who attempted to murder his ex-partner in Costitx on November 30th has been remanded in custody without bail. The incident occurred on the street opposite a house in the village of Costitx, when the victim, a resident of Alaró, went to a party.

The educational community of the San Francisco de Asís nursery school in Pil·larí (Palma) gathered this Tuesday afternoon to condemn the gender-based violence suffered by one of its employees, a 35-year-old woman stabbed on Sunday by her ex-partner as she left a party at an estate in Costit. The man had a restraining order in place.

The Sant Francesc de Assis school in Pil·larí, Palma, has called a rally in support of the 35-year-old woman, a teacher at the school, who was stabbed by her ex-partner in Costitx. The demonstration will take place at 6:00 p.m. at the school gates and will be attended by teachers, families, neighbors, and other members of the school community. The intention is to express their outrage at the attack suffered by the teacher and at any case of gender-based violence. According to the school administration, the woman's condition is "serious with a guarded prognosis," and she remains in the ICU at Son Espases University Hospital. The attack occurred on Sunday at approximately 5:12 a.m., when the woman was surprised by her ex-partner as she left a party at a house on the outskirts of this town in the Pla de Mallorca region. The suspect arrived at the property and assaulted the woman, who was taken to Son Espases Hospital due to her injuries. The man injured himself and was taken to Inca Hospital in stable condition, where he remains under police custody. Agents from the Women and Minors Unit (EMUME) of the Civil Guard have taken charge of the investigation to try to clarify the circumstances of the incident.

The mother of a doll who was allegedly sexually abused by her uncle claimed that the man threatened the girl to keep her from revealing what had happened. "If you go looking for a boy, I'll kill you. You're very pretty," she said he told her daughter when the abuse, which allegedly occurred between late 2021 and early 2022 at the doll's great-grandmother's home, came to light. The woman explained this on Monday during her testimony in the trial taking place in the First Section of the Provincial Court, just after the victim's statement, which was viewed behind closed doors, was reviewed. The victim was 11 years old at the time of the alleged abuse and is now 15. According to her account, the accused also warned the girl that "she couldn't say anything because he would go to jail and she would be taken to a center." The defendant testified at the end of the hearing and denied the accusations, also asserting that he was never alone with his niece, his cousin's daughter. When asked about the motivations for the complaint, he stated that he did not know the reasons and suggested that she harbored "grudge" against him due to family feuds. The man repeatedly insisted that before the events in question, she was like a sister to him. The minor confirmed the alleged abuse.

At another point in the hearing, a psychologist who worked at the doll's school testified that the girl explained what had happened to some friends, who then told the teachers. In a subsequent interview, the girl confirmed the alleged abuse. A sister of the accused testified that she never saw him mistreat the doll or any other family members. The professionals who attended to and treated the doll indicated that she felt "sad" and "bitter" and also displayed feelings of disgust. She also showed feelings of guilt for recounting the events. Two forensic experts confirmed the existence of psychological injuries. "Spontaneous and coherent"

The trial concluded this Monday and is now awaiting judgment. The prosecution is requesting a 13-year prison sentence for the man for sexual assault and psychological harm, arguing, among other things, that the victim's testimony is "clarifying" because it is "spontaneous and coherent." The defense is requesting acquittal, stating that the minor's testimony is "neither credible nor plausible." According to the lawyer, the victim's account is tainted by abuse suffered by her sister and "full of inconsistencies."

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Once again, Vox has prevented a unified manifesto against gender violence from being read in the Catalan Parliament. The far-right party distanced itself from the text, which received the support of all other groups, and calls for "raising our voices against violence against women." As a result, it had to be read outside the chamber.

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Women between 25 and 44 years old, with low levels of education and family responsibilities. This is the predominant profile of prostitution in the Balearic Islands, according to a statement released Monday by Doctors of the World to raise awareness of the situation of women in prostitution on the occasion of November 25th – International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The organization has assisted 1,215 prostitutes throughout 2025. "Prostitution is one of the most serious forms of gender-based violence and has profound consequences for the physical, sexual, and mental health of those who suffer it. It is a public health problem of epidemic proportions that demands the active involvement of healthcare systems," the statement reads. Doctors of the World warns of the impact that prostitution has "on the mental health" of the women who engage in it. "Among the most frequent consequences are depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, sleep and eating problems, alcohol and other drug use, as well as self-harm and suicide attempts," the organization states. In the area of sexual and reproductive health, "unwanted pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, pregnancy complications, miscarriages, hemorrhaging, chronic pelvic infections, and painful intercourse are common." According to the organization's data in the Canary Islands, most of these women are foreign nationals, from countries such as Colombia, Venezuela, and Paraguay. Many of them come from contexts of structural poverty or conflict zones. Furthermore, a high percentage are undocumented in the islands. This irregular status "limits their access to basic rights and essential public services, including healthcare." Thus, "it increases their vulnerability and dependence on exploitation networks." Doctors of the World also warns that, in recent years, there has been an increase in "the turnover of women in prostitution spaces due to the constant demand for sexual services." This prevents "their integration into society and hinders continuity of care," the statement notes. Doctors of the World considers prostitution "a form of gender-based violence and a manifestation of structural inequality inseparable from human trafficking for sexual exploitation." "This violence would not be possible without those who perpetrate and sustain it: the pimps, who profit by exploiting women, and the clients, whose demand fuels and perpetuates the prostitution system. Both are aggressors who contribute directly to the violation of women's rights, dignity, and freedom," the statement concludes.

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In Palma, more than fifteen crimes of gender violence are recorded every day. In 2024, 5,402 were recorded.This represents a 13% increase compared to the previous year, according to City Council data. Across the Balearic Islands, crimes of the same type reached 8,752, a 3% increase compared to 2013. Among the victims, older women are increasingly represented: the 24-hour service of the Balearic Women's Institute (IB-Mujer) registered a 183% increase in in-person support, rising from 7 to 6 in a single year. These figures go beyond mere numbers: behind them are stories that cry out for justice, recognition, and visibility.

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The National Police have arrested a man in Palma accused of harassing a neighbor in his building for nearly four years. According to police sources, the man repeatedly sent her messages and gifts and even listened to her conversations through her front door. The victim reported that she had been suffering systematic harassment since at least 2021. After obtaining her phone number, the neighbor allegedly sent her numerous messages and made hundreds of calls in an attempt to maintain contact, though she always avoided answering him. Later, the man began leaving her gifts—costume crowns, keychains, toy handcuffs, and other items—first by defacing her car and, later, by leaving them in front of her house.

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The Ministry of the Interior reported a total of 4,134 active cases in the VioGen System in the Balearic Islands at the end of October, a decrease of approximately 3.7% compared to the previous month. These are some of the figures released in the latest monthly report on the system for protecting victims of gender-based violence. Regarding supervised cases, these decreased by 16, from 494 in September to 478 in October; while inactive cases increased by more than 300, from 34,201 to 34,533. As for risk level, low-risk cases decreased by 140 (from 3,497 to 3,357) and medium-risk cases by 23 (from 757 in September to 734 in October). However, high-risk cases increased by two (from 41 to 43). The age group with the most active cases is women aged 31 to 45, with 1,943 (a decrease of almost 100), followed by the 18-30 age group (36 fewer cases) and the 46-64 age group (23 fewer). Active cases among minors remain unchanged at 62, but inactive cases have increased by eight (from 61 to 69). Within this category, low-risk cases have decreased (by four), medium-risk cases have increased (by five), and high-risk cases have disappeared (previously there was one). Another noteworthy statistic is that of the more than 4,100 active cases in the Balearic Islands in October, 1,988 involved victims with dependent children (almost 48.1% of the total), which is 88 fewer than the previous month.

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The Manacor City Council presented the 2025 Annual Report of the Municipal Service for the Care of Women Victims of Gender Violence (SMVVM) this Thursday during the 3rd Coordination Meeting held at the Antoni M. Alcover Public Institution. The event brought together municipal, institutional, and specialized service representatives to analyze the current situation and define joint strategies. During the session, it was reported that the service assisted 130 women in 2025, a 43% increase over the previous year, and intervened in 170 cases of children exposed to violence, highlighting the impact of these situations on families and the need for a comprehensive approach. Partners or ex-partners

87% of the cases (114 out of 130 women) involved violence within a current or former relationship, while 16 women were victims of sexual violence outside of this context, including cases of trafficking, prostitution, and rape. 81.5% of the women filed a police report. Regarding the profile, the largest group is women between 30 and 39 years old (46%), followed by those between 40 and 49 years old (23%) and those between 19 and 29 years old (19%). The majority reside in the town center of Manacor (72%), although women from Portocristo (13%), El Islote (4.6%), and other areas of the municipality are also served. "No single institution or service can eradicate gender-based violence in isolation. Only by joining forces and sharing strategies will we be truly effective. In Manacor, we want a safe, equal, and gender-based violence-free municipality," said Mayor Miquel Oliver in his address. Affected children and vulnerabilities

56.9 percent of the women assisted have dependent children, while 4.6 percent were pregnant. In 31 cases, possible child abuse (RUMI) was reported, and in more than two-thirds of these, the IMAS Child Protection Service had to intervene due to the severity of the situation. Furthermore, 25 percent of the women are receiving mental health treatment, and almost 4 out of 10 arrive without a close support network. Regarding housing, only 38 percent live in rented accommodation, 20 percent reside in sublet rooms, and 21 percent have required temporary accommodation in shelters. The main challenges identified by the service are the lack of mental health resources, the invisibility of child victims, the language barrier, the overburdened social services, the slow pace of the judicial system, the housing problem, and the decline in certain public aid programs for women victims of gender-based violence. New agreements

The working group, promoted by the Equality Department of the Manacor City Council and the Balearic Institute for Women, has concluded with several working agreements, proposed by the Equality Delegate, Carme Gomila. These include the development of new co-educational strategies aimed at young people to combat rejection of feminism, training on gender-based violence in private companies, especially those in the nightlife sector, and the creation of a united front to demand more resources for direct support to victims and to consolidate a stable structure for institutional coordination.

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A woman was seriously injured this Friday after being stabbed in the neck, allegedly by her partner, at a home in Puerto de Alcudia. According to reports from the Civil Guard and health services, the incident occurred around 8:00 a.m. at a home on Calle de las Acacias.

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The Civil Guard has arrested the partner of the 45-year-old Italian woman who died this Sunday in Les Pujols (Formentera) in a possible domestic violence murder. The detainee is also an Italian national, and investigators from the Judicial Police, deployed from Mallorca, continue their investigation to determine how the woman died.

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