The Community will strengthen assistance to victims of sexual violence with the opening of the first Crisis Center in the Region.

The Community will strengthen assistance and protection for victims of sexual violence with the opening of the Region's first Crisis Center, a space measuring more than 434 square meters, with capacity for up to 30 people and equipped with the necessary equipment and services to offer comfort, protection, and comprehensive care to users 24 hours a day, every day of the year, on a permanent basis.

New works in Murcia

The renovation and refurbishment work is progressing well, with the goal of completing the restoration work by October. The move of furniture and fixtures will begin, as well as the deployment of the qualified multidisciplinary team that will work at the center. The goal is for the new facilities to be operational by the end of the year.

The acting Regional Minister for Social Policy, Families, and Equality, Conchita Ruiz, announced the opening during her visit to the renovation project. She emphasized that "this center increases the existing housing resources available in the region, thus forming a network of assistance protection for women and children in their care who are victims of gender-based and sexual violence. This network includes 15 shelters, an Emergency Center, and now a Crisis Center."

The regional government has allocated €1.7 million from the European Recovery, Transformation, and Resilience Plan to the latter. It is being built on a disused building to "make better use of public resources and provide an isolated residential and care center with the best living conditions and protection," explained Ruiz Caballero.

The Murcia Region Crisis Center will have a multipurpose room for training activities and for providing psychological, legal, and social support to users and their families. It will also have offices, a play area, and various residential areas adapted to the needs of its residents.

In addition, it will feature modern electronic and computer systems, landscaped areas, and energy-efficient rooms for rational energy use.

Pioneer in comprehensive care for victims of sexual violence

The Region of Murcia is a pioneer in implementing the comprehensive prevention and care service for victims of sexual violence, 'CAVAX'. This resource is promoted by the Region and coordinated between the 112 hotline and the Emergency Center, where women are always supported by a team of professionals specialized in work and social education, and where they receive legal advice and psychological support.

This was highlighted by the Acting Minister of Social Policy, who detailed that, so far this year, CAVAX "has performed 1,835 interventions and has treated a total of 134 women and 11 minors."

Furthermore, by joining the "AVISA" protocol, hoteliers and cultural promoters are provided with action tools to prevent sexual violence at music festivals, venues, and nightlife venues. This initiative has also been extended to the celebration of patron saint festivals, concerts, and well-established festivals such as "La Mar de Músicas" in Cartagena, the "Bastilla Beach Festival" in San Pedro del Pinatar, and "Warm Up" in Murcia.

More than 8 million for this year

This year, the Community has invested more than 8 million euros in the prevention and care of victims of gender-based and sexual violence, an amount that increases year after year to expand protection for women and minors who suffer abuse through the creation of safe housing and support services.

Ruiz Caballero explained that the majority of the budget allocation is allocated to the maintenance and comprehensive care services offered by the shelters and the Community-sponsored Emergency Center, with a total of over 3.6 million euros. The network of Specialized Care Centers for Women Victims of Violence (CAVI) and Specialized Care Points (PAE), distributed throughout the region, is also allocated 2.4 million euros.

Meanwhile, funding allocated to non-profit social organizations that collaborate with the Community in violence prevention totals €837,600, while funding transferred to CAVAX centers is close to half a million euros.