Women and feminism

To build a city free of sexist violence, we need to put an end to all forms of violence towards women. On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence towards Women, Barcelona reaffirms its commitment to the struggle against sexist violence. The city has a wide range of services for women and minors who suffer this type of violence, offering help, guidance, advice and free and confidential personalised support either in person, online or by phone. If you suffer male violence or you know of somebody who does, we can help you.

Building alliances to combat gender violence is a key part of eliminating violence towards women in all spheres of life. Because of this, the City Council has again signed the unitary manifesto for 25N, also backed by the Government of Catalonia, the provincial councils of Barcelona, Girona, Lleida and Tarragona, the Federation of Municipalities of Catalonia, the Catalan Association of Municipalities, the Association of Small Villages in Catalonia and the Spanish Government Delegation in Catalonia.

What forms does male violence towards women take?

Male violence towards women come in many forms, in private and in public space: at home, at work, on the metro, in the street. Women of any age, from minors through to the elderly, with disabilities or reduced mobility, of any socio-economic level or any origin can experience male violence.

Some 78.8% of women living in Catalonia have suffered at least one situation of male violence since the age of 15^*.

An insult, a blow, a threat, unwanted contact, rape. Male violence towards women can be verbal or sexual, it can occur by mobile phone, on social media, it can be one-off or sustained over a long period. Aggressors can form part of somebody’s social or family circle or be complete strangers. In 63.4% of cases, the aggressor is somebody the victim knows^*.

All forms of sexist violence are a serious matter and need to be prevented and tackled. Because of this, Barcelona has public services specialising in sexist violence towards women and offering personalised free and anonymous tools and resources so that no women has to face the situation alone. Stopping this type of violence is a collective struggle.

¹Survey on sexual violence in Catalonia (2019).

Do you suffer male violence?

The Care, Recovery and Shelter Service (SARA) offers face-to-face, online and phone support specifically for people suffering gender violence, such as women, children, teenagers, LGBTI people and anyone else affected. Since February the SARA has been operating an updated phone service to handle queries and make the appointment system more agile.

• Tel. 900 922 357
• Phone support: Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 2 pm, and Monday to Thursday, from 4 pm to 7 pm
• Emergency face-to-face support: without an appointment, Monday to Friday, from 9 am to 1 pm.
• C/ Marie Curie, 16

What to do in an emergency situation involving gender violence?

If you live in Barcelona and this type of situation occurs outside of the hours for the SARA, you can contact the Barcelona Social Emergency and Urgent Care Centre (CUESB):

• Tel. 900 703 030
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

You can also use the phone support service for gender violence, which covers the whole of Catalonia and offers free confidential support in 124 languages. The service provides information relating to gender violence and ways of activating intervention services in cases of aggression.

• Tel. 900 900 120
• 24 hours a day, 365 days a year

What to do if you suffer an aggression?

If you suffer an aggression or are in immediate risk:

• Call 112. Try to keep your mobile phone with you at all times.
• If you’re at home, go to a communal space (balcony, staircase…).
• If you can’t get out, shut yourself in a room with a window, but avoid the kitchen and the bathroom.
• Shout and make a noise so neighbours can hear you.
• If you are responsible for minors, explain to them that if there is violence they must protect themselves and must not intervene. If you shut yourself in a room or decide to leave always try to do so with them.

How to identify a case of male violence towards women?

Male violence towards women sometimes shows itself through behaviour and attitudes which don’t follow patterns that are recognisable to everybody. Even so, these may be a symptom of a case of gender violence. BCN Antimasclista services offer guides with indicators which can help identify such situations.

• How to know if you suffer sexist violence from your partner?
• How to detect sexual violence?
• Do you suspect a woman you know is suffering male violence?

More specialised services

Other specialised services remain operative and provide support by phone or online:

• Women’s Information and Support Points (PIAD): public service, free and confidential, offering information, advice and guidance for women in different spheres, as well as psychological and legal advice. Phone: 900 922 357.
• Municipal Unit Against Human Trafficking (UTEH): comprehensive service (psychological, social and legal) for victims trafficked for whatever end (sexual exploitation, organ trafficking, begging etc.), advice for social and professional entities which need it. Email: unitatTEH@bcn.cat.
• ABITS Agency: support for cis and trans women working as prostitutes in Barcelona, giving priority to those in especially vulnerable situations. Comprehensive support so that they can find out about and exercise their rights under equal conditions. Email: abits@bcn.cat.

New masculinities and support for men

Combating sexist violence also entails tackling models of masculinity with the goal of men adopting healthier, more open and respectful behaviour and attitudes. To this end, the Plural Masculinities Centre opened last year as a space providing support for men and addressing doubts which arise at different moments in life:

The facility also has a prevention and support programme for men who exercise or have exercised some sort of sexist violence, the goal being to detect this type of conduct and avoid sexist attitudes or dynamics.

The team at the Plural have developed a questionnaire for men to identify conduct and behaviour linked to sexist violence towards women.

• Avinguda del Marquès de l’Argentera, 22
• Tel.: 933 491 610
• Email: plural@bcn.cat

Programmes to prevent male violence towards women

Recent years have seen the launch of specific projects to prevent sexist violence towards women in strategic spheres such as education and nightlife. These include:

• “Schools for equality”: programme for the prevention of abusive relationships, male violence, discrimination on the grounds of race or functional diversity, sex, gender, identity, sexual orientation, ethnicity or culture or religious beliefs, aimed at state schools and state-subsidised private schools in Barcelona.
• “We won’t keep quiet” protocol: protocol to prevent, detect and tackle sexual harassment and aggression at musical festivals, concerts and nightlife venues.
• Barcelona Circuit against Gender Violence: inter-institutional collaboration project for a comprehensive multi-disciplinary and cross-cutting approach to prevention, detection, support, recovery and reparation of women and their children who suffer situations of gender violence.