According to the statistics published by the Spanish National Institute for Women, the Community of Madrid (where the project is implemented) registers the largest number of criminal complaints lodged for sexual violence against women in Spain, aside from one other Autonomous Community. In 2007, a total of 1357 such criminal complaints were lodged in the Community of Madrid.
It should also be noted that the number of complaints lodged has been growing over the past few years, rising from 1226 in 2005, to 1237 in 2006, to reach 1357 in 2007. Although official statistics for 2008 are still unpublished, the figure is expected to have grown again.
In addition, the Madrid region encompasses a rural belt of mountainous villages where the complaint lodging procedures and victim support process need to be facilitated.
The project targets a population of women victims of sexual violence, whether the acts of violence are officially recognized or not, and in particular low-income women who have filed charges.
The issues addressing this type of victims concern on the one hand their emotional condition following the sexual assault, and on the other hand the appropriate response from stakeholders involved in the complaint lodging process: police, health care and judiciary professionals, etc.
The goal is therefore to provide the women victims with full assistance free of charge, including counselling and guidance, as well as psychological support and legal aid. The project further involves raising the awareness of the public, and primarily of all players implicated in the victim's processing formalities.

The foundation's support

At the 10 March 2009 meeting, the PPR Foundation’s Selection Committee approved a grant of €20,000 to support the funding of two psychotherapists at the Center.