The victims of trafficking and sexual exploitation detected in Palma grow by 33% in one year
Only 6% of the women attended had reported
PalmaNearly 400 people attended to in prostitution contexts in Palma showed signs in 2025 of being victims of trafficking or sexual exploitation, a hundred more than the previous year. The increase is approximately 33%, according to the seventh municipal report on this phenomenon, which was presented this Thursday by the Equality technician of the Palma City Council, Lourdes de la Cruz. 43% of the people studied were identified as victims of trafficking or exploitation, compared to 29% in 2024, when about 300 were detected.
De la Cruz warned, however, that the increase in identified cases cannot necessarily be interpreted as an equivalent increase in the prevalence of the phenomenon. As she explained, there is also an improvement in detection mechanisms by the entities that assist the victims. In fact, 79% of the cases were identified based on signs, while only in 15% of the situations was it the victim herself who verbalized that she was in this situation. Only 6% of the identified victims had filed a complaint.
The difficulty in identifying victims is, precisely, one of the main obstacles pointed out by the report. "Many victims have difficulty verbalizing the situation," explained De la Cruz, who highlighted the importance of building trust. "Often the first step is not to report it, but to be heard," she pointed out.
Among the main signs detected by support services are exorbitant payments or rents, debt bondage, debts linked to immigration status, the lack of control over one's own income, and the fact of residing under the control of third parties. The contexts in which exploitation occurs are also diverse. 59% of the victims identified in prostitution contexts were in private homes, while 20% were on the street, 12% in mobile services, 5% in clubs, and 2% in web environments.
The profile of the identified individuals is mostly female: 92% are women, 6% are trans people, and 2% are men. 65% of the cases correspond to people between 25 and 44 years old, while the average age is 37. The report also detects 11% of minors under 14 among the cases analyzed. Regarding the educational level, 82% have secondary studies and the majority do not have any recognized degree. The profile is also mostly migrant: 98% of the identified victims are foreigners. 73% have been living in Mallorca for less than three years and four out of ten have been living there for less than a year.
Without a residence permit
Administrative status is another element that appears in the victims' profile. 73% do not have a residence permit and 71% are in an irregular administrative situation. 67% are registered and one in three identified people does not have a health card. Housing conditions also evidence the link between the place of residence and exploitation. 57% of the victims live in the same place where they engage in prostitution, and 7% do not have a stable address. The report also points out a high family burden: 80% of the victims have people in their care and 34% have three or more. More than 55% have also suffered other forms of violence.
Faced with this situation, municipal services and entities working with the victims offer various forms of support. During 2025, 84% of the identified people received healthcare and 71% received social support. 46% received legal assistance, 29% received training or job guidance, and 15% received psychological care. De la Cruz remarked that the objective is to offer a "firm commitment" against violence and close attention to the victims.
The report also focuses on the transformation of exploitation environments. According to the Equality technician, digitalization has modified the dynamics of prostitution and sexual exploitation, and new technologies can facilitate control and location mechanisms for victims. In this context, the City Council points out that detection is still one of the main challenges. Most victims do not come to the services directly explaining their situation, and professionals must identify it based on signs and indicators. "It is necessary to generate trust," remarked De la Cruz.