Sexual assaults happening almost every day in Ceuta, prosecutors say

What the report says

Spanish prosecutors in Ceuta say they have recorded 23 sexual assaults, including nine against children, since the sudden influx of migrants from Morocco into the Spanish enclave at the end of July. Ceuta’s chief prosecutor, Silvia Rojas, said the figure amounts to almost one case a day. She also told El País that migrant girls are especially exposed because of their uncertain legal situation.

BBC World News reported that around 72,000 people crossed into Ceuta on 30 and 31 July, although most later returned to Morocco. Authorities estimate that as many as 5,000 remain in the territory, among them roughly 1,400 to 1,600 children. The continuing presence of so many migrants has contributed to unrest in the city and renewed pressure on Spain’s government.

According to the report, some victims did not come forward because they feared the consequences of reporting or were worried about their circumstances in Ceuta. The Spanish Society of Epidemiology has warned that violence against women should not be treated as an isolated problem. Officials have also announced support measures, including a cabinet-approved aid package to help fund essential services and care for unaccompanied children.

The crisis has also become politically sensitive, with Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, facing criticism from opponents over the handling of Ceuta and the wider migration situation.