The Canary Island Institute of Equality (ICI) is managing €26 million this year for comprehensive protection policies for women, as announced by the Minister of Social Welfare, Candelaria Delgado. The own investment amounts to €14.7 million.
The Minister of Social Welfare, Equality, Youth, Childhood and Families of the Canary Islands Government, Candelaria Delgado, appeared this Tuesday in the regional Parliament to detail the budget management of the Canary Island Institute of Equality (ICI), which this year is handling a total of €26 million allocated to the comprehensive protection of women in the Archipelago. Of that amount, €14.7 million comes from the autonomous government's own funds.
Delgado stressed that the Government's priority remains “to protect women, prevent gender-based violence and move towards a more equal Canary Islands.” The minister guaranteed the continuity of all ICI services, as well as a rigorous management of public resources. “We have completed the corresponding justification for the 2025 fiscal year before the Ministry,” she assured.
Of the total budget, €8.2 million is allocated to agreements with the island councils, which sustain the public network of care for women victims of gender violence in the Canary Islands. This network includes five 24-hour crisis centres for victims of sexual violence, the specialised 1-1-2 service, emergency devices, comprehensive care centres, shelters and supervised flats.
In addition to its own funds, the ICI manages around €1 million from the 0.7% contribution of personal income tax and funds from the State Pact against Gender Violence. In this regard, Delgado explained that the agency is processing a first distribution order of €1.35 million to finance actions during 2026, until completing the more than €10 million corresponding to the distribution of this fund, approved at the last Sectoral Conference on Equality.
Among the strategic actions, the minister highlighted the development of the Tindaya project, a unique file for victims that seeks to improve coordination between administrations and prevent women from having to repeatedly recount the violence suffered before different services. This tool aims to streamline processes and reduce revictimisation.
The public policies promoted by the Canary Islands Government also encompass prevention and awareness programmes, co-education actions, training for professionals, support for the associative movement, and specific projects aimed at women with disabilities, the elderly, migrants, and residents in islands and municipalities with fewer available resources. Delgado insisted that the continuity of essential services for thousands of women in the Archipelago is guaranteed.
The minister recalled that the ICI maintains the operation of all protection network devices, which include psychological, legal and social care, as well as temporary accommodation for victims and their children. Investment in these services is key to ensuring an immediate and specialised response to any situation of gender-based violence.
Regarding prevention, the autonomous government promotes awareness campaigns aimed at the general population and training actions for professionals who work in contact with women victims, such as healthcare, police and educational personnel. Co-education in schools is also one of the lines of work, with the aim of promoting equality from an early age.
Delgado concluded her speech reaffirming the commitment of the Canary Islands Government to the eradication of gender violence and the protection of women, and assured that work will continue to improve resources and coordination among all involved administrations.
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