Balearic Islands-State Agreement 2026: 24-hour telephone service for gender-based violence victims

Key data

Since September 3, 2026, the Balearic Islands has a strengthened legal framework to guarantee free telephone access to information, care and legal advice for women victims of gender-based violence. The Resolution of September 7, 2026 from the Government Delegation against Gender Violence publishes the bilateral agreement that formalizes this commitment between the General State Administration and the Balearic Government.

The agreement does not arise out of nowhere: it responds to specific international obligations derived from the Istanbul Convention (articles 19 and 24), the Organic Law 1/2004 on comprehensive protection measures against gender-based violence and Organic Law 10/2022 on comprehensive guarantee of sexual freedom. It is also integrated into the multi-year Joint Plan 2023-2027 approved by the Sectoral Conference on Equality.

What does this regulation establish?

The agreement regulates the provision of the telephone service for information, care and legal advice aimed at women victims of gender-based violence in the territory of the Balearic Islands. The essential elements of the service are as follows:

Article 19 of the Istanbul Convention requires States to guarantee victims' access to information about available support services. Article 24 requires the creation of emergency telephone helplines, free and available 24 hours a day. This agreement transfers those international obligations to the territorial scope of the Balearic Islands through an inter-administrative cooperation instrument.

Economic and operational impact

The agreement establishes a model of shared financing and coordination between the General State Administration and the Balearic Government. Although the published summary does not detail the specific amounts from each party, the multi-year framework 2023-2027 implies sustained budgetary commitments over several fiscal years.

From an operational perspective, the service must meet demanding requirements:

• Uninterrupted availability (24/7/365), which implies staffing in continuous shifts.
• Guarantee of confidentiality and anonymity, with reinforced data protection protocols.
• Adapted accessibility for women with disabilities, which may require alternative channels or specific technical support.
• Operational coordination between two administrations, with monitoring and accountability mechanisms.

For third-sector entities, social services providers or companies awarded public contracts related to victim care, this agreement can result in new tenders or expansions of existing contracts in the Balearic Islands.

Who does it affect?

• Women victims of gender-based violence residing in the Balearic Islands: direct beneficiaries of the free and confidential service.
• Women with disabilities and vulnerable groups in the Balearic Islands: with specific and priority attention within the service.
• Balearic Government: assumes responsibilities for co-financing and operational coordination of the service.
• General State Administration (Government Delegation against Gender Violence): co-financing and coordinating party of the agreement.
• Entities and companies providing telephone care services: potential contractors for agreements derived from the covenant.
• Third-sector organizations specialized in gender-based violence in the Balearic Islands: may be involved in the provision or complementation of the service.

Practical example

A woman residing in Palma de Mallorca who finds herself in a situation of gender-based violence at 3 in the morning on a Sunday can call the telephone service covered by this agreement and receive, in a free, confidential and anonymous manner, information about her rights, guidance on available resources in the Balearic Islands and immediate legal advice, without needing to identify herself or travel to any center.

If that same woman has a disability, the agreement requires that the service has adapted mechanisms to guarantee that her access to care is effective, in compliance with the mandate for special attention to vulnerable groups expressly included in the agreement.

For a third-sector entity in the Balearic Islands that already provides care services to victims, this agreement can open a call for grants or public tender for the management of the telephone service, financed jointly by the State and the Balearic Government within the Joint Plan 2023-2027.

What should administrations and entities do now?

1. Verify the operability of the telephone service: the administrations involved must confirm that the service meets the requirements of 24/7 availability, free of charge, confidentiality and anonymity from the date of entry into force (September 3, 2026).
2. Review accessibility protocols: ensure that the service has adapted mechanisms for women with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, as required by the agreement.
3. Coordinate shared financing mechanisms: the Balearic Government and the General State Administration must activate the budgetary channels provided for in the Joint Plan 2023-2027.
4. Update data protection protocols: the confidential and anonymous nature of the service requires reviewing personal data processing in accordance with the GDPR and applicable Spanish regulations.
5. Disseminate the service among target groups: social entities, health services, security forces and courts must know and communicate the availability of the service to women who may need it.
6. Monitor compliance with the Joint Plan 2023-2027: this agreement is one of the instruments of the multi-year plan; the entities involved must monitor the milestones and commitments of the entire period.

Official source

Consult complete regulation in official source

Notice: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. For specific decisions, consult a qualified professional. Source: https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2026-19192