Expanding the handling of sexual offense cases would raise the workload in Valencia’s Violence Against Women courts by about eight percent. This projection comes from the General Council of the Judiciary in a study on what the new Justice Efficiency Law might mean as it starts to apply in October. For courts specializing in gender-based violence, the impact appears to be an eight percent rise in cases, while the standard Investigating Courts would see only a two percent decrease in activity. The figures suggest shifts that could ripple through schedules, staffing needs, and the experience of victims, underscoring the importance of planning and investment from authorities to keep services accessible and timely.
After the report became public, Nuria Martínez, the Justice Councillor, urged the central Ministry of Justice to provide the necessary resources to prevent a collapse of the violence against women courts and to safeguard the protection of victims. Her call reflected concern that without adequate funding and personnel, the system could strain to the point where timely protection and fair processing become harder to guarantee.
Speaking in the wake of the CGPJ findings, the Justice Councillor reiterated that the report documents an uptick in cases that will demand more human and material resources than are currently available. She stressed that the Government must supply these resources to prevent increased vulnerability and to avoid leaving victims with fewer protections than they deserve.
If the courts become overwhelmed, a risk of systemic collapse emerges, a scenario that must be avoided. The focus should be on tightening deadlines and streamlining timelines because delays in justice can deter many women from reporting abuse in the first place, allowing cycles of violence to persist unchecked.
Below the National Average
Turning to the national picture, the report indicates that implementing the measure will bring an average rise of roughly 12.9 percent in the volume of matters processed by these judicial bodies across Spain. Valencia’s courts are projected to run below that national average, highlighting regional variations in caseload impact and resource needs that policymakers must consider when designing equitable responses.
The Justice Councillor noted that it is the Generalitat’s duty to ensure legal certainty and to protect those who need help most. Consequently, she called on the Ministry of Justice to reinforce the violence sections with more judges as a priority, arguing that a mere public statement during a commemorative day will not suffice to address the underlying demands for adequate staffing and support.
Finally, she underscored a strategic objective of the department: to improve attention to crime victims, especially those affected by gender-based violence. The aim is to secure the appropriate resources so victims receive the care and protection they deserve, reflecting a long-term commitment to safety and justice for all affected communities.