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Spanish prosecutors report that 23 sexual assaults, including nine against children, have been recorded in Ceuta since the mass influx of migrants at the end of July. Ceuta's chief prosecutor, Silvia Rojas, indicated that this translates to nearly one case every day, highlighting the vulnerability of migrant girls due to their irregular status in the territory.
On July 30 and 31, at least 72,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into Ceuta, with around 5,000 remaining despite most returning. This situation has led to unrest in the autonomous city and poses a crisis for Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. Rojas estimates that between 1,400 and 1,600 of the remaining migrants are children.
Recent days have seen increased violence as tensions rise between migrants and local residents. Sánchez convened a national security council meeting to address the issue, while Rojas noted that the influx has led to a significant rise in sexual assaults, many of which go unreported due to fear among victims. The Spanish Society of Epidemiology has pointed out the challenges in addressing violence against migrant women and girls.