Andorra Deploys Safety Buttons for 28 High-Risk GBV Victims

Twenty-eight women under the care of Andorra's Service for Attention to Victims of Gender-Based Violence (Savvg) have received safety buttons to bolster their security.

The portable devices, distributed to those assessed at medium or high risk, link to a mobile app on the user's phone. Activating the button sends an instant alert to the police coordination and command centre, including the woman's precise location. Officers dispatch the closest patrol while receiving live audio recorded by the app, allowing the user to describe her circumstances without needing to touch her device.

Once an incident is resolved, police log the details, and Savvg along with other involved parties monitor follow-up actions. To protect privacy, the government assigns each user a unique code.

Access to the devices requires ongoing Savvg oversight, a risk rating of medium or high, agreement to usage rules, and consent to the program. Women in Savvg shelters qualify, and cohabitation with an aggressor does not bar eligibility.

The initiative, which began late last year, aims to cut police response times for those facing imminent threats.

Savvg managed 229 cases from January to May this year, up from 215 in the same period last year, when the full-year total reached 359. The recent figure covers 113 carried-over cases, 64 new ones, and 52 involving women who had previously stepped away from services.

Round-the-clock assistance is available via the 181 hotline, WhatsApp at 606 181, email at igualtat@govern.ad, or the office line 825 252.