Spain’s Equality Ministry has recorded 21 sexual assaults in Ceuta during the recent migration crisis, while the public prosecutor’s office has counted 23 cases, according to Cadena SER.
The ministry’s tally includes nine victims who are minors, as reported by El Mundo. The figures emerged as authorities continue to respond to the influx of migrants into the Spanish enclave on the North African coast.
The discrepancy between the two counts reflects differing methodologies, with the prosecutor’s office tracking cases through judicial channels while the Equality Ministry relies on reports from its own network. Cadena SER noted the gap without specifying which figure is more complete.
In response to the crisis, the Equality Ministry and the Spanish Red Cross are designing an emergency migration protocol, according to ABC. The plan aims to standardize responses to future mass arrivals, including provisions for protecting women and children.
Equality Minister Ana Redondo rejected any attempt to criminalize migrants over the assaults, stating, “We are not going to allow them to be used to sow hatred,” as reported by Diario Público. Her comments came amid political debate over the incidents.
The ministry is also setting up a specialized multidisciplinary unit in Ceuta to protect women, according to El Periódico. The unit will coordinate legal, social, and psychological support for victims.
The assaults occurred during a period of heightened migration pressure on Ceuta, which saw large numbers of people cross into the territory. Authorities have since reinforced border controls and expanded support services.
What to watch next: Whether the ministry’s new protocol and specialized unit reduce response times in future migration emergencies, and whether the two counts of assaults converge as investigations proceed.
