On a pilgrimage

Women in fear: sexual assaults on the Way of St. James

Remote sections are particularly dangerous.(Bild: Armando Oliveira - stock.adobe.com)

Several women describe sexual assaults on the world-famous Way of St. James. There are reports of persecution, exhibitionist behavior and even assaults.

The Camino Francés leads pilgrims from the Pyrenees to the tomb of St. James and has existed in its current form since the 11th century. However, the hike is not without danger, especially for women walking alone.

Sexual harassment is widespread on the Camino. The founder of the online forum "Camigas", Lorena Gaibor, told the Guardian that she regularly receives reports of this from women. The network is used by female pilgrims on the Camino de Santiago.

You can't always rely on the mobile phone connection there.(Bild: Otávio Pires stock.adobe)

Nine women told the British newspaper "Guardian" about their negative experiences. In most cases, the incidents occurred without witnesses in remote sections. It is feared that the number of unreported cases is far higher. Last year alone, it is estimated that around 230,000 women walked the Camino de Santiago.

Poor mobile phone connection
The police are now said to have increased their presence. For example, masturbating in public is considered a form of sexual harassment in Spain. However, the perpetrators are often able to escape. In 2023, for example, five cases of exhibitionism were officially reported to the Portuguese police on the Caminho Portugues. However, no arrests were made. To make matters worse, mobile phone coverage is poor on some sections of the route, making it difficult for victims to get help in time.