Gender-Based Violence Soars in the Canary Islands

Canary Islands has become the autonomous community with the highest rate of gender‑based violence in Spain, according to the latest data from the Observatory against Domestic and Gender Violence of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ).

During the second quarter of the year (April‑June 2025), 4,001 reports of male‑perpetrated violence were filed across the archipelago, marking a 44.6 % increase compared with the same period last year.

The number of women officially recognized as victims also rose sharply, reaching 3,817 – 1,196 more than in 2024, a 46.6 % jump. With these figures, the Canary Islands’ rate climbs to 33.7 victims per 10,000 women, the highest in the country, well above the Balearic Islands (27.6) and the national average (19.2).

By Island

• Tenerife: 2,636 reports (the highest)
• Gran Canaria: 1,360 reports
• Lanzarote: 180 reports
• Fuerteventura: 156 reports (see note below)
• **La 60 reports
• La Gomera: 16 reports
• El Hierro: 6 reports

Most cases involve injury and mistreatment offenses.

In Fuerteventura, the 156 complaints filed in just three months reflect a reality that continues to trigger social alarm and institutional concern.

Island social services and women’s associations stress the need to strengthen prevention, care, and protection measures, as well as to promote early education on equality and the importance of reporting.

Expert Commentary

Specialists warn that the spring surge does not merely indicate a rise in incidents; it also reflects a greater willingness among victims to report crimes, driven by an increasingly active social consciousness against male‑perpetrated violence.

Official Response

Public institutions in the Canary Islands reaffirm their zero‑tolerance policy toward gender‑based violence, emphasizing that citizen collaboration and community support are essential to eradicate this scourge.

The 016 hotline operates 24 hours a day, free of charge and confidentially, providing information, advice, and assistance to victims and their surroundings.