Formentera Local Police join system to protect victims of gender violence

foto 2021 viogen sala amable bEarlier today Consell de Formentera premiere Alejandra Ferrer and Balearic Islands Civil Guard territorial colonel in chief Alejandro Hernández Mosquera signed a deal to protect victims of gender violence.

The ceremony was also attended by Balearic government envoy Aina Calvo, island director of the central government Enrique Sánchez Navarrete, local social welfare chief Rafael Ramírez, equality chief Vanessa Parellada and chief of Formentera Local Police Félix Ramos.

The deal sets down operational protocol for collaboration between FLP and the local Civil Guard so gender violence victims’ court-ordered protections are respected. The protocol includes criteria and guidelines about how the two forces should coordinate responses to situations related to gender violence.

With the new agreement in place, the FLP can intervene directly, implementing and reviewing police and court orders to ensure gender violence victims living on Formentera are safe. In that respect, President Ferrer welcomed its signing, saying the deal would open the door to improved victim care — “now more important than ever in these times of pandemic”, she insisted.

For her part, Ms Calvo described the agreement as “key to being able to monitor victims and keep them safer”, and asserted that the inter-agency coordination would make protocol more efficient.

‘Sala amable’
After the signing, the officials visited a space known as “Sala amable” at the local Civil Guard station. President Ferrer pointed out that the space was designed with victims in mind to inspire trust and security, with funding for the changes provided by the Formentera government.

With €2,500, the Formentera Department of Equality saw to the the room’s painting, furniture and decoration and equipped it to make it cosier, more welcoming and comfortable for victims and children, who often stay with the parent-victim when charges are being brought against an abuser.

The agreement and the new space mark further progress in the Consell’s multi-department effort to tackle gender violence. It is also the latest example of the ongoing and fruitful collaboration between Formentera’s government and the Civil Guard, which, according to Colonel Hernández Mosquera, is about quality of life improvements for islanders and tourists alike.

The Formentera Department of New Technologies additionally paid €7,000 to equip the Civil Guard station with a video conferencing system to be shared by FLP and the Formentera Department of Social Welfare.

Message of thanks
Lastly, President Ferrer shared thanked local law enforcement for their work during the pandemic and applauded their efforts while the island was sealed off to in- and out-bound travel. “We’re not out of the woods yet though”, insisted the premiere, adding renewed efforts would be necessary to “keeping the situation under control while we work toward herd immunity so we can reactivate our economy and regain personal freedoms”.

11 March 2021
Communications Department
Consell de Formentera