The study, presented at the institution's headquarters, highlights that the average delay for women seeking help in specialized social resources in Barcelona is three years and three months after the assault. Once they take the step, the victim can wait up to three months to receive specialized attention or treatment, a time the Ombudsman deems “excessive”.
“"This increase in complaints has saturated the system in the city of Barcelona."
The current circuit is better prepared to handle recent aggressions than older violence, which constitutes the majority of users. Distrust in the system, fear of the aggressor, or shame explain why less than 10% of survivors report the assaults.
The lack of coordination means women must go through an average of three different services (and up to ten in 6% of cases) before finding an adequate response. This situation, according to Bondia, “revictimizes” these women, as they must constantly relive the trauma, causing many to abandon psychological treatment before being discharged.
Another major gap detected is the lack of housing available for victims, forcing women to stay longer than recommended in emergency accommodations. The report also points out the overload experienced by professionals in specialized services due to the constant increase in demand.
