Women with disabilities who experience gender-based violence can face additional barriers when trying to recognise abuse, report it and access protection. Economic dependence, social isolation, communication difficulties and a lack of accessible support services can make it harder for victims to escape abusive situations.

These issues were at the centre of a professional conference held in Ibiza on Monday, 9 November 2026, under the title Dones, Discapacitat i Violències Masclistes (Women, Disability and Gender-Based Violence). Organised by the Consell Insular d'Eivissa, through its Oficina de la Dona, in collaboration with the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB), the event formed part of the programme leading up to 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.

The conference took place at the UIB's Ibiza and Formentera university headquarters and brought together researchers and professionals from the fields of psychology, social care, employment and gender equality.

Carolina Escandell, the Consell's councillor for Social Services, Family and Equality, took part in the opening session, highlighting the need to make violence against women with disabilities more visible and improve the response provided by public institutions and professionals.

The discussions addressed not only physical, psychological, sexual and economic abuse, but also less recognised forms of violence, including excessive control, neglect, the loss of personal autonomy and forced sterilisation.

Women with Disabilities Face Additional Barriers to Reporting Abuse

María Ángeles Alcedo Rodríguez, professor of Psychology at the University of Oviedo and a researcher specialising in disability, delivered the first presentation.

She warned that violence against women with disabilities remains poorly represented in research and official statistics. Many studies use relatively small samples, while others do not provide sufficiently detailed information according to the type of disability. This makes it more difficult to understand the different risks women face and to develop appropriate support services.

Alcedo referred to research estimating that between 65% and 70% of women with disabilities aged over 16 have experienced gender-based violence at some point in their lives, from childhood through to old age.

She also highlighted the additional difficulties women may encounter when attempting to seek help. Dependence on another person for everyday care, limited communication support, inaccessible facilities and a lack of professional training can all make it harder to report abuse or continue through the protection process.

The problem can extend beyond the original violence. Women who approach hospitals, police stations or courts may experience what is known as secondary victimisation when services fail to provide appropriate support or when existing protocols are not properly applied.

Alcedo stressed the importance of training professionals across different sectors, including healthcare, education, social services, policing and the judicial system.

Secondary Victimisation and the Loss of Personal Autonomy

One of the conference's central themes was the risk of women experiencing further vulnerability when they seek assistance.

Alcedo explained that inadequate procedures and a lack of understanding about disability can leave victims feeling unsupported. In some cases, this can lead women to abandon the process of reporting abuse or seeking protection.

She highlighted the role of facilitators: professionals who can support people with disabilities during judicial proceedings, helping them understand information, communicate effectively and participate on equal terms.

The researcher also drew attention to forms of violence that may be less immediately recognised, including excessive overprotection, neglect and the removal of a woman's ability to make decisions about her own life.

Other issues discussed included forced sterilisation, forced abortions and human trafficking. Alcedo noted that abuse can also originate within a victim's immediate social or family environment, particularly for women with intellectual disabilities.

The conference emphasised that protection must go beyond responding to physical violence. It also requires recognising coercion, dependency, control and restrictions on personal autonomy.

Carolina Escandell Calls for More Accessible and Specialised Support

During the opening session, Carolina Escandell highlighted the particular vulnerability that women with disabilities can face when experiencing gender-based violence.

She pointed to economic dependence, the need for physical assistance and communication barriers as factors that can make abuse more difficult to identify and report.

Escandell also stressed the responsibility of institutions and professionals to improve detection and ensure that support is adapted to each woman's circumstances.

The councillor explained that some of the island's accommodation resources are already adapted for people with disabilities, while others require improvements. The Consell is planning reforms to address these shortcomings.

She also referred to the new crisis centre for victims of sexual violence, which officially began operating on 1 April 2026. Coordination with the Oficina de la Dona had started in January.

The centre provides psychological, legal, therapeutic and social assistance, as well as a 24-hour emergency service. Escandell said that figures relating to the service would be presented as part of the Consell's forthcoming 25N programme.

Four in Ten Women with Disabilities in the ONCE Study Report Gender-Based Violence

The conference also examined findings from Ojo al dato, a study produced by Inserta Empleo, part of Fundación ONCE, based on the experiences of more than 1,600 women with disabilities.

According to the study, 40.4% of the participating women with disabilities had experienced gender-based violence. The corresponding figure among women without disabilities was 32%.

The study also found that 34.5% of the women with disabilities who had experienced violence had not reported it, while 4.3% had withdrawn a complaint.

These figures highlight the difficulties that can prevent victims from accessing formal protection and support.

It is important to distinguish these results from the broader lifetime estimates discussed by Alcedo. The 40.4% figure comes from the ONCE study's participants, while the 65–70% estimate refers to findings from different studies concerning lifetime experiences among women with disabilities over the age of 16.

Employment as a Route Towards Economic Independence

Another important part of the conference focused on employment and the role it can play in helping women leave abusive situations.

Edelmira González Marín, coordinator of the Mujeres en Modo ON-VG project at Inserta Empleo-Fundación ONCE, explained how stable employment can help women regain economic independence and reduce their reliance on an abusive partner or other people responsible for their care.

The project began in 2020 after the organisation identified numerous cases of gender-based violence among women registered with its employment service.

In the Balearic Islands, it has supported 155 women with disabilities affected by gender-based violence. Of these, 104 have achieved employment.

Across Spain, the initiative has supported 5,533 women.

The programme combines individual support with professional training and employment assistance, helping participants develop the skills and financial independence needed to rebuild their lives.

Caroline Vera de Decker, the Balearic territorial director of Inserta Ocupació-Fundación ONCE, also participated in the conference.

Laura López Addresses Inequality, Autonomy and Support Networks

The programme also included a presentation by Laura López Navarro, a social worker and social educator specialising in people experiencing vulnerability.

Her conference, titled Entre violencias y resistencias: ser mujer con discapacidad frente a las desigualdades (Between Violence and Resistance: Being a Woman with a Disability in the Face of Inequality), explored the barriers women face, alongside the importance of autonomy, mutual support and access to safe networks.

In an interview with Onda Cero Ibiza and Formentera, López highlighted the additional difficulties women with disabilities can experience when trying to identify, report and escape abusive situations.

She explained that dependence on a partner for care or everyday assistance can create situations in which women are exposed to physical, psychological, sexual or economic violence.

López also called for an end to the infantilisation of women with disabilities, emphasising that support services must respect their autonomy and personal decisions.

She underlined the importance of women's associations and support networks in helping victims access resources, share experiences and avoid becoming isolated or dependent on a single person for assistance.

A More Coordinated Response Ahead of 25 November

The conference in Ibiza highlighted the need for a more accessible and coordinated response to gender-based violence affecting women with disabilities.

The discussions showed that barriers can arise at several stages: recognising abuse, finding information, accessing services, making a complaint and navigating the legal system. A lack of suitable communication support, inaccessible facilities and insufficient professional training can all leave women without the protection they need.

The organisers brought together researchers, public institutions and specialist organisations to share evidence and identify practical ways to improve prevention, detection and assistance.

As Ibiza approaches 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the conference has placed particular emphasis on a group of victims whose experiences can remain overlooked.

Its central message was that protection must be accessible to every woman, regardless of disability, and that effective support must recognise each individual's circumstances, autonomy and right to live free from violence.