Key data
| Regulation | Resolution of August 6, 2026, from the Government Delegation against Gender-Based Violence, publishing the Agreement with the City of Melilla for the provision of the telephone service for information, care and legal advice on violence against women |
|---|---|
| BOE Publication | August 15, 2026 |
| Entry into force | August 4, 2026 |
| Signatory parties | Government Delegation against Gender-Based Violence and Autonomous City of Melilla |
| Category | Public Sector |
| Regulatory framework | Istanbul Convention, Organic Law 1/2004, Organic Law 10/2022 |
| Associated plan | Joint multi-year plan against violence towards women 2023-2027 and State Pact approved in February 2025 |
| Financing | Ministry of Equality through the Government Delegation against Gender-Based Violence |
The Government Delegation against Gender-Based Violence and the Autonomous City of Melilla have signed an agreement to guarantee the continuity and quality of the telephone service for information, care and legal advice to women victims of gender-based violence in the territory of Melilla. The Resolution of August 6, 2026 (BOE-A-2026-17829) formally publishes this agreement, which entered into force on August 4, 2026.
This agreement is not an isolated novelty: it is part of a consolidated regulatory architecture that requires public administrations to guarantee accessible and confidential access to victim care services.
What does this regulation establish?
The agreement regulates the provision of the telephone service for victims of gender-based violence in Melilla under the following parameters:
| Element | Detail |
|---|---|
| Type of service | Telephone, information, care and legal advice |
| Availability | 24 hours a day, 365 days a year |
| Services included | Emergency psychological care and legal guidance |
| Nature of service | Accessible and confidential |
| Territorial scope | Autonomous City of Melilla |
| Enabling legal framework | Istanbul Convention, Organic Law 1/2004, Organic Law 10/2022 |
| Multi-year reference plan | Joint plan against violence towards women 2023-2027 |
| State Pact | Renewed in February 2025 |
| Financing | Ministry of Equality, through the Government Delegation against Gender-Based Violence |
| Local collaboration | Administration of the Autonomous City of Melilla |
The laws that support this agreement impose on administrations the obligation to provide accessible and confidential care services. The Organic Law 1/2004 on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender-Based Violence and the Organic Law 10/2022 on Comprehensive Guarantee of Sexual Freedom establish the framework of rights that this service materializes in Melilla.
Economic and operational impact
From the perspective of the local administration of Melilla, this agreement means the guarantee of external financing for a service of mandatory regulatory compliance. The operational costs of the service—specialized personnel in psychological care and legal advice available uninterruptedly—are borne by the Ministry of Equality through the Government Delegation against Gender-Based Violence, not by Melilla's municipal budgets.
The agreement is integrated into the Joint multi-year plan 2023-2027, which implies medium-term financial planning already committed at the state level. The State Pact renewed in February 2025 reinforces the budgetary stability of these services until, at least, the plan's horizon.
For the administrations involved, the operational impact translates into:
- Obligation to maintain the service active without interruptions (24h/365 days).
- Coordination between state administration (financing and supervision) and local (territorial provision).
- Compliance with the confidentiality and accessibility standards required by the Istanbul Convention and the reference organic laws.
Who does it affect?
- Women victims of gender-based violence residing in Melilla: direct recipients of the telephone care service, legal advice and emergency psychological support.
- Autonomous City of Melilla: co-signatory administration responsible for the territorial provision of the service.
- Government Delegation against Gender-Based Violence: state body that finances and supervises compliance with the agreement.
- Ministry of Equality: source of financing for the service through the Delegation.
- Service professionals: psychologists, legal experts and telephone service operators who must guarantee 24h/365 days availability.
- Other regional and local administrations: this type of agreement serves as a reference for the articulation of similar services in other territories under the same framework of the Joint Plan 2023-2027.
Practical example
A woman residing in Melilla who suffers a situation of gender-based violence at 3 in the morning on a Sunday can access the telephone service guaranteed by this agreement and receive, in that same call, emergency psychological care to manage the immediate crisis and legal guidance on available protection measures (restraining orders, access to shelter resources, filing a complaint, etc.).
This access is possible because the agreement requires the service to be operational 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, without exceptions for holidays, weekends or on-call shifts. State financing through the Ministry of Equality guarantees that the Autonomous City of Melilla can maintain this level of service without depending exclusively on its own budget.
What should administrations do now?
- Verify service activation: the Autonomous City of Melilla must confirm that the telephone service is operational from August 4, 2026, the date the agreement enters into force.
- Review availability standards: verify that the service meets the requirement of uninterrupted availability (24h/365 days) required by the agreement and by the reference organic laws.
- Guarantee confidentiality: care protocols must respect the confidentiality requirements established in the Istanbul Convention and in Organic Law 10/2022.
- Coordinate with the Government Delegation: establish the reporting and supervision channels provided for in the agreement for monitoring the Joint multi-year plan 2023-2027.
- Plan for the 2023-2027 horizon: integrate this service into the budgetary and operational planning of the period covered by the Joint Plan, taking into account the State Pact renewed in February 2025.
Frequently asked questions
When did the agreement between the Government and Melilla for care of victims of gender-based violence enter into force?
The agreement entered into force on August 4, 2026, although its publication in the BOE took place on August 15, 2026 (reference BOE-A-2026-17829).
Who finances the telephone service for victims of gender-based violence in Melilla?
Financing is provided by the Ministry of Equality through the Government Delegation against Gender-Based Violence. The Autonomous City of Melilla acts as a collaborating administration in the territorial provision of the service.
What services does the telephone care agreement for victims of gender-based violence in Melilla include?
The service includes information, legal advice and emergency psychological care. It must be available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, with accessible and confidential character.
What regulatory and planning framework does this agreement fall under?
The agreement falls under the Istanbul Convention, Organic Law 1/2004 and Organic Law 10/2022. At the planning level, it is integrated into the Joint multi-year plan against violence towards women 2023-2027 and the State Pact renewed in February 2025.
Does this agreement affect other cities or autonomous communities?
This specific agreement affects exclusively the Autonomous City of Melilla. However, the framework of the Joint Plan 2023-2027 and the 2025 State Pact contemplate similar agreements with other territorial administrations to guarantee equivalent services throughout the national territory.
Official source
Consult complete regulation in official source
Disclaimer: 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-2026-17829