A growing phenomenon at the Tarragona High Court
One third of the judgments made at the Tarragona High Court are dedicated to cases of sexual assault, a percentage that has aroused concern among the authorities. According to Joan Perarnau, president of this court, the statistics reveal that a large part of the victims are minors, with half of these cases affecting young people.
Factors contributing to the increase in complaints
The increase in complaints can be partly attributed to the implementation of the Barnahus project, an innovative service in Tarragona that offers comprehensive support for children and adolescents who have suffered abuse. Perarnau emphasizes that the creation of this center has made it easier for younger people to dare to talk about their traumatic experiences.
The shocking reality of the minor victims
The President of the High Court expresses that the current figures are alarming and that the reality of sexual violence against minors is a reflection of deeper problems in society.
The alarming appearance of minor aggressors
Another worrying fact is the increase in the number of aggressors who are also smaller. Perarnau suggests that this may be linked to a culture of sexual precocity and access to pornographic content at very early ages, which can distort the perception of sexual intercourse among young people.
The Precocious Access to Porn
Experts have stated that exposure to pornography since the age of 11 can influence adolescents’ behavior, creating a distorted reality on sexuality.
Reinforcement required in the Court of Minors
The Court of Minors of Tarragona has seen an increase of 17% in the affairs registered in 2023, with a total of 686 cases. These data indicate that the judicial system in this region needs additional support to be able to manage the increase in workload.
Compare with other courts of Catalonia
In comparison, other courts of Catalonia, such as that of Girona and Lleida, have registered significantly lower numbers, with 464 and 460 affairs respectively. This positions the Court of Minors of Tarragona as one of the most busy in the country.
The importance of specialized courts
Perarnau also emphasizes the need for courts specializing in sexist violence, arguing that they offer more appropriate attention to victims. Tarragona currently has three such courts, but the President considers that another court should be established in the Terres de l’Ebre to guarantee a closer access to justice.
Improvements in access to justice
Perarnau ends his reflection, emphasizing the importance of the use of telematic means to make it easier for victims to access the court services without having to move, thus improving system efficiency.