Female asylum seekers sleeping in makeshift camps in the Spanish enclave of Ceuta have reported persistent fears of sexual assault, with some describing attempted attacks nearly every night. The women are part of a larger group of migrants who have recently arrived in Ceuta following a significant surge across the border from Morocco.
More than a dozen women have established a camp along a roadside near the government-run migrant reception center, the facilities of which are currently exceeding capacity. These women are sleeping in the open along with hundreds of other migrants from various nationalities. Three women told Reuters that men in the vicinity have been harassing them, with attempts at assault occurring even when they go to use nearby facilities.
Authorities report that between 5,000 and 8,000 people remain in Ceuta following the border surge, which saw tens of thousands cross from Morocco. While many of the initial arrivals were young men, a substantial number of women and children also made the crossing. Police and social services are working to expand reception facilities, with 2,168 children registered and 500 adult asylum applications filed as of last week.
One 28-year-old migrant from Morocco, Wafae Atid, stated that she and other women have created a camp using cardboard boxes and blankets, positioning themselves as close as possible to a police van for safety. "It's really bad... A lot of guys are trying to attack the girls every night, sometimes just when you go to the toilet. They follow you," Atid said, adding that the perpetrators were of "different nationalities, Africans, Arabs."
The SUP, a Spanish police union, reported that 15 sexual assaults of varying severity have been recorded in Ceuta since July 30, with the majority of victims being underage. The union indicated that most alleged assaults occurred in beach and wooded areas where migrants are concentrated, noting that prosecution could be difficult due to vague information from victims. The SUP also stated that women who reported assaults have received attention from authorities and are now housed in a new center for sexual assault victims. The union has called for an expansion of Ceuta police's women and families unit and increased civilian safety patrols around the makeshift camps.
Ceuta's court authorities confirmed they processed three cases of sexual assault involving migrant women allegedly committed by Moroccan migrants who arrived during the mass influx. Two cases involved minors, one allegedly sexually assaulted and forced into drug dealing, and another indecently touched. In both instances, the accused men were jailed pending trial. In a third case, an adult woman alleged indecent assault, and the judge ordered the assailant's deportation. Another man's deportation was ordered on charges of breaking and entering, after he allegedly climbed into a local woman's bed in his underwear.
Spain's Interior Ministry and police have declined to confirm the assault figures or provide further details. Data from Spain's Interior Ministry for 2024 shows 42 sexual assaults and five rapes were reported in Ceuta, which has a population of 84,000.
Spanish ministries for Interior, Migration, and Equality did not respond to Reuters' questions regarding the allegations. Spain's Health Minister confirmed that medical services had treated five women for sexual violence, emphasizing that providing shelter for migrants is the most urgent healthcare challenge. Migration Minister Elma Saiz stated that authorities and the Red Cross are distributing meals and hygiene kits, and that temporary reception centers with 1,500 additional spaces are being established.
Human rights organizations, including Save the Children, UNICEF, and Amnesty International, have expressed concern over the vulnerability of migrant women and girls in Ceuta, calling for urgent measures like safe housing and specialized support. The PorCausa Foundation noted that overcrowded conditions can lead to sexual violence and recommended gender-segregated facilities and safety protocols similar to those in refugee camps.
Migrants like Atid report difficulty sleeping due to fear, resting only during daylight hours. They lack access to separate shower facilities, and Atid stated the stress has caused her periods to stop. Despite these conditions, she prefers living on the street in Spain to remaining in Morocco. Another migrant, Dikra Tetouan, who crossed with her younger sister, also described repeated harassment and sexual assault, stating they try to protect themselves by screaming to attract attention. Police reportedly informed the women that there was little they could do.