Pallarés calls for greater involvement from doctors in tackling violence against women despite not yet meeting with Medical Association

The Secretary-General of the Andorran Women's Institute (Institut Andorrà de les Dones, IAD), Judith Pallarés, has called for greater involvement from family doctors in identifying cases of violence against women, despite acknowledging that she has not yet met with the Andorran Medical Association to address the issue.

Speaking to the Andorran News Agency (ANA), Pallarés explained that she hopes to arrange a meeting with the professional body in the near future to encourage doctors to participate in the second edition of a training programme focused on protocols for assisting victims.

The situation highlights a lack of direct coordination with the medical profession, even though Pallarés herself considers healthcare professionals essential in identifying potential cases of abuse.

Pallarés, who is affiliated with the political party Acció and has headed the institute since January 2025, believes doctors should play a more proactive role in detecting situations of abuse that often go unreported.

Low participation by doctors in training programmes

The head of the IAD also acknowledged that specialised training courses on violence against women, organised by the State Secretariat for Equality, have attracted limited participation from medical professionals, according to the information available to her.

Although she noted that the Medical Association has organised some training initiatives of its own, she believes the healthcare sector's overall involvement remains insufficient.

"Doctors are an extremely important factor in detecting cases," Pallarés stressed.

According to figures cited by Pallarés, women experiencing gender-based violence visit doctors 30% more frequently, making primary healthcare a particularly important setting for identifying potential victims.

She referred to patients who repeatedly attend medical appointments with injuries, bruises or other health problems that could be linked to episodes of violence.

Pallarés argued that doctors should look beyond patients' initial explanations when warning signs suggest a potentially abusive situation and, where appropriate, activate the relevant protection protocols.

Pallarés admits Andorra needs more specialists to support victims

Beyond the involvement of medical professionals, the Secretary-General of the Andorran Women's Institute acknowledged another weakness in the victim support system: a shortage of specialised professionals.

Pallarés distinguished this issue from the qualifications of staff already working within the Victim Support Service, defending their ongoing professional training.

"I think we need more specialists, not that the existing professionals need more training," she explained.

Her remarks suggest that, in her assessment, the current workforce remains insufficient to provide the level of specialised assistance required.

Pallarés also clarified that the IAD does not provide direct assistance to victims. Instead, the institute refers individuals to the relevant services and contributes to training professionals involved in prevention, detection and victim support.

These include social services, the Police, legal professionals, professional associations, the Red Cross and teams operating the Punts Lila (Purple Points), which provide information and support in situations involving harassment or gender-based violence.

Around 350 cases of violence against women handled annually in Andorra

Pallarés also revealed that Andorra's Victim Support Service handles approximately 350 cases of violence against women each year, highlighting the importance of effective detection and support mechanisms.

She warned that not all women who seek assistance eventually file a formal complaint with the authorities.

Fear, financial dependence and other personal circumstances can prevent victims from taking legal action, meaning that identifying abuse should not necessarily depend on the beginning of criminal proceedings.

"If you identify these cases in time, you can also protect these women," Pallarés stated.

The institutional objective, she explained, should be to help victims escape abusive situations and access the support they need, regardless of whether they ultimately decide to report their experiences to the police.

Coordination with doctors remains unresolved

Pallarés' statements have once again highlighted the need to strengthen cooperation between public institutions and healthcare professionals. However, several key measures remain undefined.

Despite calling for greater participation from family doctors, the Secretary-General of the IAD has not announced a date for her meeting with the Andorran Medical Association, nor has she detailed specific measures to increase medical professionals' attendance at training sessions.

She has also provided no timetable for expanding the number of specialists responsible for supporting victims of violence against women.

As a result, the main shortcomings identified by Pallarés remain unresolved, both in terms of medical professionals' involvement in detecting abuse and the availability of specialised human resources to assist victims.