Cape Verde Reports Surge in Gender-Based Violence & Backlogs
Cape Verde is facing a mounting challenge in its judicial system as reports of gender-based violence and sexual crimes surged over the past year. According to the latest annual report from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, cases of gender-based violence rose by 11%, while sexual crimes saw a sharp 20% increase during the 2025–2026 judicial year.
Straining the Judicial System
The rise in reporting has put significant pressure on the country’s legal infrastructure. The report highlights 1,742 new cases of gender-based violence filed during the period. However, the system struggled to keep pace; only 1,303 cases were resolved—a 25% drop in conclusions compared to the previous year. Furthermore, the majority of these concluded cases were archived rather than resulting in a conviction.
This bottleneck has led to a 15% increase in pending gender-based violence cases, which now total 3,275. “These indicators demonstrate growing pressure on processing capacity and reinforce the need for specialization, victim protection, and a swift procedural response,” the Public Prosecutor’s Office stated in the report.
Sexual Crimes and Child Protection
The data regarding sexual offenses is equally concerning. Authorities opened 750 new cases of sexual crimes this year, with nearly half of those (355 cases) involving the sexual abuse of children. While 579 cases were moved through the system, the backlog for sexual crimes grew by 15%, mirroring the delays seen in domestic violence proceedings.
A Silver Lining in Family Law
Despite the troubling trends in violent crime, the judicial report noted a significant improvement in family and minor-related legal matters. The backlog of paternity and maternity investigation cases plummeted by 42%, falling from 990 to 574 cases. This progress suggests that targeted efforts in civil and family law are yielding results, even as the criminal justice system grapples with a rise in interpersonal violence.
Image: Pexels – KATRIN BOLOVTSOVA
