The Socialist Group in the Cabildo of Tenerife has voiced its discontent on Tuesday regarding the halving of the number of offices set up to assist victims of gender violence, a decision made by the Government group of the corporation presided over by Rosa Dávila (Coalición Canaria). This reduction, as estimated by the PSOE, amounts to 1.7 million Euros, decreasing from the planned 5.9 million Euros by the Socialist Party to almost 4.2 million Euros.
The socialist councillor Marián Franquet, who held this responsibility in the previous term, revealed that the team led by Pedro Martín had intended to expand the number of offices to six: in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Los Realejos, Garachico (Zona Alta), Güímar, Granadilla, and Arona. However, under the new government team’s approval, only three will be extended: Metropolitan Area (preferably Santa Cruz de Tenerife), Comarca Abona (with preference in Granadilla or Arona), and Valle de la Orotava (with preference in Los Realejos).
Currently, Tenerife has services in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, La Laguna, Adeje, Candelaria, San Miguel, Santa Úrsula, La Matanza, Tacoronte, La Orotava, Icod de los Vinos, and Los Silos. These offices offer specialised assistance to the inhabitants of their respective areas, although due to security concerns and victim requests, women are often assisted in offices outside their residential municipalities.
Marián Franquet: “Enhancing and expanding the network in Tenerife was essential”
The office network in Tenerife supports women and children who have fallen victim to gender violence. Over the past five years, 20,269 women have been assisted. In 2023, a total of 4,777 individuals were supported (4,327 women, 390 girls and boys, and 60 individuals from the victims’ family circles). The CAVIS (Specialized Care and Intervention Centre for Victims of Sexual Gender Violence) assisted 308 people in 2023 (216 women and 92 minors). A steady increase is noted in both services, with a growth of 9.97% in the offices and 16% in the CAVIS between 2020 and 2023.
“We are addressing one of the major tragedies in the Canary Islands and Spain as a whole – the councillor stated – impacting thousands of women, their daughters, and sons. The care network in Tenerife needed modernisation and expansion, a development that the Socialist Party had planned with six new offices to meet the increasing demand. The tender initiated by us has been continued by the new governing coalition of the Canarian Coalition and the Popular Party, led by Rosa Dávila. However, it was disappointing to discover that instead of those six offices, only three are now being considered,” Marián Franquet added.
As a result of this expansion, the waiting list for these services as of April 2023 consisted of 1,128 women in need of psychological support, along with 357 girls, boys, and adolescents, 145 women requiring social assistance, and 30 individuals seeking legal aid. Hence the PSOE’s initiative to broaden the network of offices.
