Barcelona's Hospital Clinic warns of rise in violence in sexual assaults

Barcelona's Hospital Clinic say that 37% of the women who have been treated this year for sexual assault have also had physical injuries, such as bumps, bites, fractures, or scratches.

Last year, the medical center which is also the reference point in the city for treating sexual assault, says this figure was around 20%.

"In addition to sexual violence, there is added physical violence. These are assaults with a higher level of violence", warns Dr. Lluïsa Garcia Esteve, president of the center's Committee on Gender Violence and Health.

Hospital Clinic has treated 587 people for sexual violence so far this year, counting data from January to October, with 89% of them being women, 524 in total.

Hospital Clínic treats, on average, two people a day who have been victims of sexual assault.  

The vast majority of perpetrators are men (99%). Almost half (45.8%) of the people treated were under 25 years of age: 29 girls aged 16 and 17; 218 women between 18 and 25, and 22 men between 18 and 25. 

Saturday, November 25, is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, with protests expected in Barcelona and around the country. 

Psychological effects

Hospital Clínic also treats the psychological effects on victims.

"Many of the women who come to us have a strong feeling of guilt. It is one of the main things we work on. How are you guilty if you suffer a sexual assault?" says Andrea Mallorquí, a mental health specialist nurse.

One victim, who did not want to be named, praised the support she received.

"I was completely sure that I wouldn't get through this, that my life was falling apart. I thought: not being here, maybe that would be better. I started to think very negative things. But it is possible to get through it. Time passes, if you need to you go to therapy, but there is a way out and you will be OK again."