The Department of Social Inclusion, Youth, Families, and Equality, through the Andalusian Women’s Institute (IAM), has provided, in collaboration with the United States Consular Agency in Seville, training on sexual violence to a group of coordinators of American university students, so they can be aware of the resources provided by the Andalusian Government for victims and offer initial support and accompaniment in case of sexual assault.
The United States Consular Agency in Seville provides assistance to American citizens residing or visiting Western Andalusia, which includes the provinces of Cádiz, Córdoba, Huelva, and Seville. Additionally, through the private center CEA CAPA, the arrival of American university students is coordinated, including reception, tutoring, internships, Spanish courses, or assistance in case of any incidents during their stay in Andalusia.
The director of the Andalusian Women’s Institute, Olga Carrión, who was accompanied by the head of the United States Consular Agency in Seville, Alan P. Campbell, participated in the training aimed at this coordination team «so they could firsthand know all the resources of the Andalusian Government aimed at women victims of sexual violence, as well as offer them tools to provide initial care and support in case of assault, as these are very traumatic and complex moments.»
Carrión explained that Andalusia has had various programs in the field of sexual violence for years, both immediate 24-hour care and comprehensive. «In the first case, emergency psychological and social care is provided and includes, if the victim requires it, accompaniment to the health center or police station, while in the second service, comprehensive care is offered from psychological, legal, and judicial aspects, with legal professionals and solicitors in case of report and trial,» she explained.
In this regard, she recalled that since December, the eight crisis centers for victims of sexual violence have been open, one for each Andalusian province, which can be accessed through the women’s helpline 900 200 999, which is operational 24 hours and available in more than 50 languages, including English.
In the training activity attended by a group of coordinators from the CEA CAPA center who welcome American students, the responsible individuals from the Andalusian Women’s Institute services participated, providing detailed information on the resources and how to access them, addressing doubts about initial crisis care, and offering tools on how to act in case of sexual assault.