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Updated in April 2026 at the release of Netflix’s documentary, The Predator of Seville.

Hitting Number 1 in True Crime almost immediately, the three-part series explores allegations from several women against a tour company owner and operator. 

On April 11th, 2018, the Today Show aired the story of Gabrielle Vega, a young woman who alleged she was raped while studying abroad in Spain. While on a semester in Salamanca, Gabrielle contracted the services of a student-run tourism company, Discover Excursions, to travel to Morocco. Given that Morocco isn’t the safest place to explore at night, one of the guides (and owner), Manuel Vela Blanco, invited Gabrielle and two friends to his hotel room for a drink.

With his back turned, she alleges, he poured a glass of champagne.

The next morning, she woke up woozy and realized she’d been violated by the same person entrusted to keep her safe in Morocco.

I wish I could say I was shocked, but I wasn’t.

Rumors had  long swirled around Manu and his employees  – I’ve been privy to them boasting about sleeping with multiple women a night – but he continued to run a successful tourism company whose target market was female study abroad students. I’m disgusted that I interviewed for Discover Excursions in 2009, the year Blanco Vela bought out the company and the rumors began emerging.

Since Gabrielle came out as a victim, more than 50 women have come forward with a similar story (not everyone was raped). Blanco was indicted and sentenced to eight years in prison; he appealed as is currently walking free.

You can read more about my take on the documentary, revisiting my memories and what’s happening now with Manuel Blanco, you can read my Substack post “I know the Predator of Seville.”

I was deeply affected by Gabrielle’s testimony. Even as someone who has never been a Discover client and much less their friend, I reached out to Gabrielle on social media and asked how I could help. Her request was simple: a list of resources for women who might find themselves in a similar situation. Working in higher education, I am familiar with Title IX reporting, with local resources in Madrid and how to file a police report – but there is not an extensive list.

I seek to provide that here.

Sadly, domestic violence and sexual assault are an everyday occurrence in Spain. Have you heard of La Manada, a group of men from Seville who were recently convicted of sexual misconduct after allegedly gang raping a woman at the San Fermines festival in 2016?

Spain is behind the times when it comes to handling sexual assault and rape charges, and even something supposedly harmless like cat calls are commonplace – but citizens are thankfully speaking out, and Spain has added a cabinet position to address inequality and sexual violence.

Please share the information about where to go if you are the victim of a sexual assault, of sexual violence, or of rape while in Spain. Even if you think it will do no good to denounce someone while abroad or you feel ashamed to report, now is the time that we must speak up. Below you will find a growing list of resources for the major study abroad cities, which happen to be many of Spain’s largest. If you have further information, please comment or email me so that I can update the list.

What to do if you have been raped or are the victim of sexual violence

If you are the victim of a sex-related crime in Spain, follow these steps immediately after the crime and making sure you are ok (better to have a trusted friend and preferably one who speaks Spanish):

1. Have a medical examination performed. The word for rape in Spanish is violación, and you should keep a copy of the medical report for the police report.
2. File a police report (denuncia) at any National Police Station.
3. Contact the Servicio de Atención a mujeres víctimas de Violencia de Género (Support Service for Women Victims of Gender-based Violence, herein referred to as S.A.V.G.) – 24 hour service, where you will receive specialized social, psychological, and legal support and where they will help you to come up with a safety plan for potential risk situations. This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 day; the number is (+34) 900 222 100 and is free to the caller. You may also use this service if you are not a legal resident of Spain or in an “irregular” residency situation. Email is savg24h@madrid.es.

The emergency number in Spain (similar to 911) is 112.

The hotline for women who have been physically or sexually abused is 016 (whatsapp is 600 000 016).

Both hotlines are free to call and are available in several languages (some lesser-spoken languages are only available from 8am – 6pm during the work week). Read this short pamphlet (in English) about where to go and what to do if you have been assaulted or raped.

If you are the victim of any sort of crime in Spanish territory (this includes Ceuta and Melilla), you are strongly encouraged to fill out a police report. This is called a denuncia, and it can be filed at any National Police (policia nacional) station, which are open 24 hours a day. Here is where to file a police report. Be sure to be as descriptive as possible, bring an ID with you and, if you feel your Spanish is not up to par, bring someone who can translate.

You can file in person, via telephone (at a cost) to 902 102 112 from 9am until 9pm. Victims of sexual abuse or rape cannot file a police report of this nature online. If the crime was committed outside of Spain but involves a Spanish national, it may be hard to file a report and you may get pushback – but that shouldn’t stop you from trying.

If you suspect you have a sexually transmitted disease, called an enfermedad de transmición sexual, you can have a test performed at any public clinic, so long as you are registered through an empadronamiento.

Important: if the person harassing or violating you has access to your computer or phone, always clear your browser history. Many websites listed on this post will also have a button called “salida rápida” which will allow you to close the page quickly.

What constitutes rape or sexual abuse in Spain?

It’s helpful to know a little bit about law in Spain regarding sexual abuse, gender violence and rape, which is under fire with the La Manada conviction. Spanish penal code defines both sexual abuse (abuso sexual) and rape (violación) as an act against a person’s sexual liberty.

Much like a robbery or petty theft, there is a heavier penalty when violence is exercised against the victim. This could be through intimidation or force but can be difficult to prove – and this is exactly why the Manada, a group of five guys who gang raped a woman during the San Fermines festival, were let off.

Worse, they filmed the rape and planned it ahead of time, sharing the crime on a whatsapp group.

The jail time associated with each is from one to five years if there is evidence of violence; if not, the maximum prison time drops to three years. Like I said, Spain is a little behind the times when it comes to punishing these sorts of crimes.

Spain-wide resources

Ministerio de Igualdad: In Spain, gender violence, also known as domestic violence or violencia de género, is investigated and prosecuted via the Ministry of Equality (Ministerio de Igualdad), and the Subdelegación Contra la Violencia del Género. They have an informational sheet about your rights (mostly directed towards victims of violencia de género). This resource is linked in English but is available in over a dozen languages and all official co-languages of Spain.

The latest update to Spain-wide services and coordinated efforts I could find is from 2019. It’s here in English.

The Guardia Civil is tasked with investigating violent crimes against women and minors as part of the EMUME program. They have an office in each province, which you can download here.

The following are national organizations:

• The newly created Oficina Nacional Contra la Violencia Sexual is a digital library that can connect you with local resources for judiciary or legislative help.
• ATENPRO is the national hotline for victims of sex-related crimes. You can reach them at (+34) 900 22 22 92 or by emailing atenpro@femp.es.
• Instituto de las Mujeres (Spanish only) exists in all major capitals; the national hotline is (+34) 900 19 10 10. The organization is headquartered in Madrid on Condesa de Venadito, 34. The nearest metro stop is Barrio de Concepción (Line 7), or you can take bus 53 from Puerta del Sol. This page does more than help victims – there is information about everything from birth control options to equlity in the workplace Of special note for this post is an interactive map of where to find local offices as well as updates on legislation in Spain regarding sexual harassment and assault. Below, I detail the contact information of the local Instituto de las Mujeres in popular study abroad and touristic destinations.
• Red Ormiga provides assistance to undocumented immigrants, including in cases of rape or sexual violence.

Resources for foreigners abroad

Your country’s Embassy or nearest consulate will have resources, too, and it’s understood that the consular agents are tasked with protecting the interests of their constituents. Most Embassies are located in Madrid (a full list is available here) and many have consulates around Spain. The US has consulates in Spanish territory in Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Fuengirola (Málaga), Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and Palma de Mallorca. Andorra is also under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Mission to Spain.

The crisis hotline for U.S. citizens is (+34) 91 587 2200.

The US Embassy website and American Citizen Services in Spain – including emergency services – can be found here. You can also request a translator through ACS. The consular agent is responsible for the well-being of American citizens in their jurisdiction, so use them!

• Pathways to Safety: an overseas resource for Americans abroad who have been victims of sexual abuse, rape or aggression 

American victims of sexual assault and violence have access to a toll-free crisis phone number. Dial the country code first, which for Spain is 900-99-0011. After dialling the country code, the victim will be prompted to dial the hotline’s direct number, which is 833-SAFE-833 (833-723-3833).

Important: For calls on a mobile phone, the call should be deleted from the call history log for safety reasons. On a landline, they should first hang up the receiver, then pick it up and dial another random number and then hang up again. This prevents someone from redialling, and this can help you stay safe at the hands of a person who is hurting you.

The phone number is for immediate response. You also have the option to email a crisis case manager at crisis@pathwaystosafety.org. The response time via email may be anywhere from two hours to six hours; in an emergency situation, a phone call would illicit an immediate response. If a victim chooses to report their assault to the police, an English interpreter will be provided upon request. If you are traveling alone, you can contact the U.S. Embassy to request that an officer accompany you for the medical examination in addition to a police station.

Pathways to Safety seeks to help victims of interpersonal and gender based violence, including domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, stalking, and forced marriage. At this time, they only help Americans who become victims while abroad in ways like safety planning, legal aid services, counseling, and transition and basic needs assistance either in a foreign country or back in the United States, whenever possible.

• RAINN – the Rape, Abuse and Incest National Network headquartered in the USA. They have an 800-number and a live chat in the event you are a victim or would like to consult the statute of limitations. Click here to connect with them now.
• Better Help for online counseling. If you are in Spain with health insurance, check out your options, as many programs will allow you to see a therapist as part of your coverage; just be aware that wait times are often long. Also be aware that the comunidad autónoma provides free counseling and access to resources at a local level.

Resources in Spain for LGBTQ+

The Ministry of Equality runs a hotline, Arcoiris, for those who identify LGBTQ+ – this service is for any sort of aggression or harassment. Dial 028 or reach out to 028-online@igualdad.gob.es. They act as a first contact before directing you to the best resources for your case. Their interactive map can quickly identify the resources and centers closest to you, too.

You can also drop in to COGAM, an English-speaking resources center for queer people. They’re located on Calle Puebla, 9, and are open week days from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. near Metro Callao (Lines 3 and 5) or Gran Vía (Lines 1 and 5). Email them at informacionlgtb@cogam.es – this is a top resource if you don’t speak Spanish fluently or comfortably.

The List: Resources for sexual crime victims in popular study abroad destinations in Spain

This post is not meant to be directed only at study abroad or Erasmus students.

But the truth is that rape culture is prevalent in the US, particularly at the university level. It’s estimated that one in six university students will be victims of sexual harassment or abuse.

Madrid

• Hospital de la Paz and ask for an evaluación forénsica to be performed. Be sure to fill out a police report prior to your hospital visit. Paseo de la Castellana, 261, metro Begońa (Line 10). (+34) 917 27 70 00.
• ATIENDE program at Hospital Universitario Gregorio Marañón. In their first 20 years, they have seen more than 3,400 victims. C. del Dr. Esquerdo, 46, metro O’Donnell (Line 6) or Goya (Line 2, Line 4). (+34) 915 868 000

To file a restraining order, you can do so at the located at the Comunidad de Madrid Dirección General de la Mujer at Calle Madrazo, 34, 3rd floor. The nearest Metro is Banco de España (Line 2); (+34) 91 720 62 38: or at C/ Manuel de Falla 7 , 2ª pta. (nearest metros are Santiago Bernabeu and Cuzco, both on Line 10) (+34) 91 720 62 38.

Instituto de la Mujer – Comunidad de Madrid

C/ Manuel de Falla 7 , 2ª pta. (nearest metros are Santiago Bernabeu and Cuzco, both on Line 10) (+34) 91 720 62 38.

• APUNE – an organization of American university programs in Spain. They are located at C/ General Oraá, 55. The closest metro is Avenida de América (Lines 4, 6, 7, 9).
• SINEWS – a multi-lingual counseling company offering support for victims. Their offices are at Sagasta, 16 on the ground floor. Nearest metro stops are Bilbao (lines 1 and 4), Alonso Martínez (Lines 4, 5 and 10). (+34) 91 700 19 79; (+34) 60 926 93 23 is the emergency line.
• Servicio De Atención A La Mujer (SEDAMUR) – a newly-formed division of the National Police tasked with investigating violent and sexual crimes. The Madrid-based headquarters is located in the Comisaría de Policía at Avda. Doctor Federico Rubio y Gali, 55; Metro at Francos Rodríguez (Line 7). +34 913 22 34 21.
• Asociación Ayaan Hirsi Alí – Northern African women who has experienced sexual violence can find resources and assistance in Arabic and French at this newly-formed organization. You’ll find them on C/ de la Aduana, 9. Metro Sol (Lines 1, 2, 3) +34 915 230 644.

Andalusia: Sevilla, Málaga and Granada

In Andalucía – the region that is home to popular study abroad destinations like Sevilla, Granada and Málaga – the Ministerio de Sanidad, Servicos Sociales e Igualdad and the division known as the Instituto de la Mujer are responsible for overseeing resources for reporting and attending to victims, plus running the 170+ local offices.

The autonomous community-wide ministry is located in the capital of Seville at Avenida de Hytasa, 1, +34 95 500 63 00; the central office for the Instituto Andaluz de la Mujer for the entire comunidad is located in the center of town at Doña María Coronel, 6: +34 95 454 4910, consulta.iam@juntadeandalucia.es.

That said, you can find information about the Instituto de la Mujer in each province and big city of Andalusia, as well as their satellite offices in other municipalities in the same link. The organization provides shelters and psychological help for victims of gender violence, as well as health and employment training. They are only open Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., so be sure to follow official, national channels for reporting and taking yourself out of harm’s way.

Instituto de la Mujer – Andalucía branches

You can search “Centro Provincial Instituto Andaluz de la Mujer” and your town or city. I’ve listed juse four here:

• Córdoba: Av. de las Ollerías, 48. (+34) 957 003 400. cmujer.cordoba.iam@juntadeandalucia.es
• Granada: C/ San Matías, 17. (+34) 958 025 800. cmujer.granada.iam@juntadeandalucia.es
• Málaga: C/ San Jacinto, 7. (+34) 951 040 847. cmujer.malaga.iam@juntadeandalucia.es
• Sevilla: C/ Alfonso XII, 52. (+34) 955 034 944. cmujer.sevilla.iam@juntadeandalucia.es

Additional Resources for sexual crimes in Andalusia

• The Servicio de Asistencia de Víctimas de Andalucía (SAVA) is a gender-inclusive psychological and judicial support service for victims of crimes – which includes foreigners, tourists and minors. There are offices in each province of Andalusia and the Campo de Gibraltar, and their services are listed in their English-language pamphlet.
• The Costa del Sol chapter of Soroptimist International is active, championing for women’s issues and providing support in nearly four dozen languages.
• U.S. Consular Agencies: There are US Consulates in both Sevilla (Plaza Nueva, 8B, 2nd floor) and Fuengirola, a town to the west of Málaga (Juan Gómez Juanito, 8). Dialling (+34) 915 872 200 will get you to the Embassy’s central line, where you can ask for a transfer to any consulate in Spain.

Castilla y León: Salamanca

While the Junta de Castilla y León is located in Valladolid, where I chose to study abroad in Spain, the capital isn’t home to a plethora of Erasmus students or co-eds on a semester overseas. But Salamanca, home to one of the world’s oldest universities, draws in thousands, and internationally recognized IE University hosts a campus in Segovia.

The regional government provides a list of resources under the Health and Social Services Ministry and maintains a Sección de la Mujer in each of the eight provinces, in addition to eight Centros de Acción Social (CEAS). The list of satellite offices is found on the Familia, drogopendencias y mujer section of the Junta de Castilla y León’s website.

Here are the big ones:

• The Sección de Mujer of Salamanca is located at C/ Gran Vía, 53-55, 1st Floor. (+34) 923 296 766; The Sección de la Mujer in Segovia can be found at Plaza Doctor Andrés Laguna, 4. (+34) 921 461 982, ext. 861258
• The central office for the Centro de Acción Social (CEAS), which deals with citizens in crisis, is located in Valladolid. You can find your nearest office at this link. They will be able to direct you to more resources and translators, if needed.
• Asociación de Asistencia a Víctimas de Agresiones Sexuales y Violencia de Género is active in Castilla y León and partially funded by the regional government. León, Valladolid and Burgos are of note; the Salamanca office is located at C/ Padre Cámara 25, bajo; the office phone is +34 923 26 05 99 and 24 hour emergencies (+34) 609 835 336.

Cataluña: Barcelona

The region of Cataluña is known for being one of the more progressive. A simple Google search for this post brought back a number of resources for victims of sexual crimes, including free therapy sessions for victims of sexual crimes during youth, monetary compensations for victims and a number of organizations meant to protect and support victims.

While the official language of all of Spain is Castillian Spanish, it’s more common to hear catalán or inglés. That said, if you speak in Spanish in larger urban areas, you will be attended to in Spanish. Keep in mind that, at the time of publication, local law enforcement is upheld by the Mossos d’Esquadra, a division of the civil guard whose day-to-day operations are run by the Catalan government. Within Catalonia, the emergency number 012 will connect you to the Mossos.

Like all other regions, you should follow the protocol of calling the police, having a pelvic exam and making a denuncia. And bravo to the Catalonian government’s website that has clear instructions and resources for the whole region, the most relevant of which are listed below.

The general hotline for victims of sexual crime in Catalonia is: (+34) 900 90 01 20 (24/7).

Where to go if you need a rape kit done in Barcelona:

Both of the following public treatment centers will treat victims of sexual assault and have specialized units for their emotional and psychical treatment:

• The public Hospital Clínic de Barcelona is one of the largest treatment centers in the region, and in addition to an ER and psychological units, treats victims in the Programa de Prevención y Tratamiento de las Secuelas Psíquicas en Mujeres Víctimas de Agresión Sexual c/ Rosselló, 140, bajos; (+34) 629 63 45 53. Note that the aforementions unit is only open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 10 am until 1pm.
• Hospital Sant Joan de Deu has a Unidad de Agresiones Sexuales and will also treat sexually abused minors. Ctra. De Esplugas, s/n: (+34) 932 80 40 00.

U.S. Consulate in Barcelona

The U.S. consulate in Barcelona has select Embassy powers in Barcelona. It’s located in the Sarrià neighborhood at Paseo Reina Elisenda de Montcada, 23; (+34) 93 280 22 27; the Ask Citizens Services email is barcelonaacs@state.gov. The nearest subway station is Reina Elisenda (the end of Line 12).

Instituto de la Mujer – Provincia de Barcelona

Catalonia’s Instituto de la Mujer is part of the Minsterio de Bienestar y la Familia. Their page regarding sexual crimes is in English, and you can find the office at Plza. Pere Coromines: (+34) 934 95 16 00; icd@gencat.cat

An excellent resource in English in Barcelona city is the Women’s Support and Information Points (PIADs) | Dones i feminismes | Barcelona City Council. These 12 free, confidential information points can point you in the right direction for legal, medical and emotional support. You MUST make an appointment by calling (+34) 90 092 23 57 (Monday to Friday, from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.). Staff will schedule an in-person or virtual meeting.

The nearest PAID to the Ciutat Vella is located at Carrer del Comerç, 5.

Other resources

• Asociación Asistencia Mujeres Violadas – a global non-profit that provides psychological and legal support to rape victims. Find them at Carretera de la Bordeta, 58-60, local. (+34) 93 487 57 60 or info@aadas.org.es.
• The Oficine de Atenció de Víctimas de l’Delicte (OAVD) is a division of the Ministry of Justice that can help you with legal matters related to sxual crimes. Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes, 111. Edificio I. planta 3ª; (+34) 900 12 18 84 (toll free); atenciovictima.dji@gencat.net.
• The Servei d’Atenció, Recuperación i Acollida (SARA) goes a step beyond by offering refuge to women, children and anyone who has been the victim of sexual violence as well as anyone in their family o immediate circle. It is a division of DONA. C/ Marie Curie, 16: (+34) 900 92 23 57; sara@bcn.cat. The service is by appointment only, unless you are in immediate danger, in which case you can walk in week days from 9 a.m. until 1 p.m.

Communitat Valenciana: Alicante and Valencia

In Valencia, the Instituto de la Mujer is overseen by the Consejería de Bienestar Social and, at a more local level, the Dirección General de Familia y Mujer. You can reach the central line, operative 24 hours a day, at (+34) 900 58 08 88 or (+34) 900 152 152 for the hearing impaired. The Generalitat also lists police commissaries that have special attention to victims of sexual assault.

Institut de les Dons in the Comunitat Valenciana

Overseen by the Consellería de Servicios Sociales, Igualdad y Vivienda, the main offices are located in Valencia at C/ De la Democracia, 77, Ciutat Administrativa 9 d´ Octubre, torre 3. +(34) 961 247 614; institutdelesdones@gva.es. Closest metro is Nou d’ Octubre (lines 3, 5, 9).

You may find that some services operate first in valencià, a language closely related to catalán. Those organizations with pages in English have been added here, though the most complete information will be in valencià or castellano.

• Their counterpart Alicantina, la Coordinación La Dona, is on Av/ Oscar Esplá, 33-35 in Alicante. (+34) 965 92 97 47.
• The Centro de Asistencia a Víctimas de Agresiones Sexuales is likely to give more support. While they do not have resources in English on their webpage, they are a reference in Spain for their pioneering work in support for victims and are right in the center of town. C/ Guillem de Castro, 100; (+34) 963 94 30 69; info@cavascv.org. The nearest metro stop is Tùria.
• The Asociación para la Protección e Integración de la Mujer provides services for immigrants, particularly for victims of abuse. They are headquartered in Valencia at C/ Baron de Carcer, 48 8L; asociacionprim@hotmail.com.

Further, the Generalitat offers economic help to survivors who meet certain socioeconomic conditions, such as residency and income. This page is in Spanish, as well as the online platform to apply.

There is a U.S. Consulate near the Colom metro stop on Carrer del Dr. Romagosa, 1, 46002; (+34) 963 51 69 73.

País Vasco: Bilbao and San Sebastián

Like Catalonia, the Basque country has a higher degree of autonomy; their police force is known as Ertzaintza. Again, although the official language of the whole country is Castillian Spanish, you may find that resources or services are in euskera first.

The Instituto Vasco de la Mujer is known as Emakunde in the Basque language, and their services also extend to men who have been victims of sexual crimes. The main office is located in the Basque capital of Victoria-Gasteiz (+34 945 01 67 00); emakunde@euskadi.eus. They have a website in English and have listed their protocols in a helpful PDF (in Spanish). I could not find information about satellite offices in the comunidad.

• The Specialized Information Service and Hotline Service For Female Victims of Domestic Violence (S.A.TE.VI.) is available around the clock for confidential information and support at (+34) 945 01 93 27 or (+34)  945 01 93 16; violenciacontramujeres@euskadi.eus. The hearing and speech impaired can get assistance by sending a text message to (+34) 600 12 31 12 with personal details and location, by typing the words “gender violence”.
• The Servicio de Asistencia a la Víctima (Victim Assistance Service, or SAV),  is service which provided by the Basque Government that offers information and the social, legal and psychological assistance; both are located in the Palacio de la Justicia. They have limited hours, so you should call authorities outside of normal business hours, taking into account reduced hours and staffing in the summer months.
  • Bilbao: C/ Ibáñez de Bilbao, 3-5. (+34). 900 40 00 28 (free phone) or (+34) 944 01 64 87.
  • San Sebastián: Plaza Teresa de Calcuta, 1. (+34) 900 10 09 28 (free phone) or (+34) 943 00 07 68.

Title IX

Discover Excursions and Manuel Blanco Vela: where are they now?