Facing violence against women or children in the Balearics: who do you call?

If you are facing violence against women, a single number is enough to get free, confidential help, 24 hours a day, with no trace on your phone bill: 016. In the Balearics, the regional Govern adds a free local line, 900 178 989, run by the Institut Balear de la Dona (IB-Dona), and for children in danger, 116 111 (the ANAR foundation) takes over. For any immediate emergency, call 112. These services sit on top of legislation many countries look to as a model: Spain was a pioneer with Ley Orgánica 1/2004 on comprehensive protection measures against gender violence.

Why is Spain's law described as pioneering?

Ley Orgánica 1/2004, of 28 December 2004, was the first European law to treat gender violence comprehensively: prevention, education, protection, support and sanctions all in a single text. It created specialised courts, the juzgados de violencia sobre la mujer, and the protection order, which lets a victim obtain emergency restraining and safety measures. For minors, a second law completes the framework: the LOPIVI (Ley Orgánica 8/2021, of 4 June, on comprehensive protection of children and adolescents against violence), which requires early detection, reporting and support for child victims or witnesses. Since 2025, the court structure has been evolving (the juzgados are becoming gender-violence sections of new instance courts), but the principle stays the same: specialised justice covering every territory.

Which numbers can you call in the Balearics?

016 is a national, free, confidential line, available 24 hours a day, every day of the year. According to the Delegacion del Gobierno contra la Violencia de Genero (the Equality Ministry), it operates in around fifty languages and offers several channels: the 016 phone number, WhatsApp on 600 000 016, the email 016-online@igualdad.gob.es, and an online chat. One safety point worth knowing: the call does not appear on your phone bill, but it can still show up in the phone's recent-calls log, so it is worth deleting (some newer handsets now hide this number automatically).

In the Balearics, IB-Dona's Servei 24 hores adds a local line on top of 016: 900 178 989, free, open 24 hours a day, year-round, across the whole archipelago (source: caib.es; the number was updated in early 2025, Ultima Hora reported on 29 January 2025). This service also provides specialised in-person support. For a child or teenager, 116 111 is the European child helpline, free and confidential for under-18s, run in Spain by the ANAR foundation (also reachable on 900 20 20 10). And for any situation of immediate danger, the number to remember is 112.

What does IB-Dona and the Balearic network offer?

The Institut Balear de la Dona (IB-Dona), part of the Balearic Govern (headquartered at C. Aragon, 26, in Palma), is not just a phone line. According to caib.es, it offers legal advice, social support and psychological care for women as well as their children, and runs shelters (cases d'acollida) on Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza. Admission to a shelter does not require a prior police report: each situation is assessed jointly, and requests for a place go through a dedicated line available 24 hours a day (971 36 12 12).

Alongside this regional service sit the Oficinas de Asistencia a las Victimas del Delito (OAVD), a free public service run by the Justice Ministry, present on the main islands. They provide legal guidance, including support specific to gender-violence victims, and psychosocial assistance designed to prevent secondary victimisation during the legal process. For families settled far from their support network, these services matter a great deal, something we cover in our piece on raising children far from family in the Balearics.

Who should you contact on each island?

National numbers (016, 112) and IB-Dona's regional line (900 178 989) work everywhere in the archipelago. The table below adds the court and local contacts specific to each island.

What do the figures look like in the Balearics?

The Balearics have the highest rate of gender-violence victims in Spain. According to 2024 data from the Observatorio contra la Violencia Domestica y de Genero at the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), published on 31 March 2025, the archipelago recorded 118.7 victims per 10,000 women, against a national average of 74.2. In absolute terms, 7,785 complaints were filed on the islands and 7,337 victims recorded, down 2.2 and 3.2 percent respectively from 2023. Among those victims, 4,127 held Spanish nationality and 3,210 were of foreign origin.

On protection, still according to the CGPJ, 2,283 protection orders were requested in the Balearics in 2024, of which 1,833 were granted and 447 refused. Another notable shift: the number of victims who withdrew their testimony against an abuser fell 44.4 percent, from 1,805 in 2023 to 1,004 in 2024. These figures, being court-based, also reflect reporting levels: a high rate partly reflects a greater willingness to file a complaint, and should be read with care. Nationally, the scale of the issue is measured through the Macroencuesta de Violencia contra la Mujer and the official registry of fatal victims kept by the Delegacion del Gobierno contra la Violencia de Genero.

Frequently asked questions

Does 016 appear on my phone bill?

No. A call to 016 does not appear on your phone bill. It can still remain in the phone's recent-calls log, which it is worth deleting; some newer handsets now hide this number automatically.

Do you need to file a police report before being admitted to a shelter?

No. According to IB-Dona, admission to a shelter (casa d'acollida) does not require a prior report. Each situation is assessed jointly, and requests for a place go through the 24-hour intake line (971 36 12 12).

Can you get help if you do not speak Spanish?

Yes. The 016 line provides support in around fifty languages. Your consulate or embassy in the Balearics can also point you toward support services in your own language.

What should you do for a child in danger?

Call 116 111 (the ANAR foundation), free and confidential for under-18s, or 112 in an emergency. The LOPIVI (Ley Organica 8/2021) also requires professionals to report any situation of violence against a minor.

Can LGBTI people also get help?

Yes. Violence within a couple or family affects every kind of relationship, and specialised services exist: see our guide to LGBTQIA+ rights in the Balearics. For any emergency, 112 remains the number to call.

We keep this page updated as legislation and Balearic services evolve: if a number has changed or a service has helped you, let us know so we can pass it on to other readers. If in doubt or in danger, remember: 016 for guidance and advice, 112 for any emergency. Information verified in August 2026. The Daily Baleares is an AI-assisted publication with human review.