Women’s centre in Elche marks first anniversary having helped 587 women

The Women’s Centre in Elche has celebrated its first anniversary, recording 587 women and 50 minors assisted during its first year of operation. Over this period, the facility provided 2,858 interventions for adult victims and 311 for children. The milestone was marked by an official visit led by the First Vice President and Councillor for Housing, Employment, Youth and Equality, Susana Camarero, alongside the Mayor of Elche, Pablo Ruz, the Autonomous Secretary for Equality and Housing, Asuncion Quinza, and the Commissioner for the Fight Against Violence Against Women, Felipe del Bano.

Although first announced in 2018 by former vice president Monica Oltra, the centre did not open until the current Consell launched it, ending an eight-year wait. Official management began on 1st September 2025 following a Generalitat tendering process. The contract runs until 31st August 2027, with an option for a two-year extension, and carries a budget of 2,535,437 euro.

Operating seven days a week from 8.00am to 10.00pm, the facility employs 16 professionals, including a coordinator, psychologists, a child psychologist, social workers, social educators, legal advisers and administrative staff. Its reach extends beyond Elche to the wider Baix Vinalopo area through mobile visits.

Across the Valencian Community, regional Women’s Centres assisted 9,692 women in 2025 across 11 locations. These include 24-hour centres in Valencia, Alicante and Castellon, as well as 14-hour facilities in locations such as Elche, Segorbe, Elda and Denia.

Camarero announced that the regional network now employs 239 professionals with updated collective bargaining salaries. Additionally, six itinerant Social Integration Technicians will be deployed to 14-hour facilities across the province of Alicante to run educational and prevention programmes. Mayor Pablo Ruz highlighted joint working in Elche between the local government, National Police and Local Police, noting that Elche’s local SAIM support service handled over 1,900 appointments in the first eight months of 2026.