The number of pilgrims walking all of the Camino routes has grown considerably over the last few years. So too have the number of reports of female pilgrims being the victims of sexual harassment or indeed assault. Thankfully these do not occur frequently. In this post there are hints and tips about personal safety:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...camino-some-hints-tips-and-information.37735/
However this is not the point of this post. One of the most troubling things about the reports which women have given is that when they report the incidents to the Spanish police many feel they have not been taken seriously. There have been other reports from pilgrims who happen to be lawyers that in Spain activities such as flashing are not illegal and therefore if no physical assault has taken place then there is little the police can do about it.
Certainly over the last few years there has been an increased presence of the police on many camino routes particularly the Camino Frances. However in my view the time is overdue for the Spanish government to take this issue seriously and the enact whatever laws are necessary and to instruct the police to follow up every incident reported by a pilgrim.
So I appointed myself the Camino Campaigner To Get Something Done. A few things have been set in motion through friends and contacts. Some Members of the Spanish Parliament both local and national are raising the issue and getting interesting answers - the first question is how often pilgrims report such incidents. Interesting variety of answers from "this information is not collected" to "if no law has been broken the incidents are not recorded" So the campaign continues.
How can you help? I'd like to make two suggestions.
If on the Camino you are the victim of or witness any action which in your home country would be a crime or elicit the active response of the police - REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY to the police where you are.
Take a note of the identity of the person you spoke and the address of the police station and send this to your country's embassy in Spain. In your letter please ask the embassy to exhort the Spanish authorities to record these incidents, respond to them and if necessary change the law.
Thanks to our Moderator Kanga for her encouragement with this.
John
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...camino-some-hints-tips-and-information.37735/
However this is not the point of this post. One of the most troubling things about the reports which women have given is that when they report the incidents to the Spanish police many feel they have not been taken seriously. There have been other reports from pilgrims who happen to be lawyers that in Spain activities such as flashing are not illegal and therefore if no physical assault has taken place then there is little the police can do about it.
Certainly over the last few years there has been an increased presence of the police on many camino routes particularly the Camino Frances. However in my view the time is overdue for the Spanish government to take this issue seriously and the enact whatever laws are necessary and to instruct the police to follow up every incident reported by a pilgrim.
So I appointed myself the Camino Campaigner To Get Something Done. A few things have been set in motion through friends and contacts. Some Members of the Spanish Parliament both local and national are raising the issue and getting interesting answers - the first question is how often pilgrims report such incidents. Interesting variety of answers from "this information is not collected" to "if no law has been broken the incidents are not recorded" So the campaign continues.
How can you help? I'd like to make two suggestions.
If on the Camino you are the victim of or witness any action which in your home country would be a crime or elicit the active response of the police - REPORT IT IMMEDIATELY to the police where you are.
Take a note of the identity of the person you spoke and the address of the police station and send this to your country's embassy in Spain. In your letter please ask the embassy to exhort the Spanish authorities to record these incidents, respond to them and if necessary change the law.
Thanks to our Moderator Kanga for her encouragement with this.
John