Ready, Set, Pilgrim: When the Camino Becomes a Catwalk of Catastrophes
Ah, the Camino de Santiago! A pilgrimage that promises spiritual enlightenment and breathtaking scenery. But for many lone female pilgrims, it’s starting to feel less like a holy journey and more like a disturbing episode of a bad reality show – “Who Wants to be Harassed?”
Imagine striding confidently down a picturesque path, only to have your serenity shattered by some bloke who’s a bit too “in touch” with himself for comfort. It’s a shame that some men think “walking with God” means quite literally taking matters into their own hands in the middle of nowhere. Nine women have shared their “terrifying” tales of harassment while trying to experience this supposedly sacred route. Spoiler alert: Their experiences heavily feature the unwanted male gaze – and hands.
The Horror Stories
According to these accounts, things can escalate quickly. One poor woman found herself being pursued through rural Spain like she was in an action movie and he was the villain with no trousers! Meanwhile, another woman had a “charming” man in a van urging her to hop in – because nothing says “I care” quite like a dodgy lift from a stranger.
Notably, the founder of Camigas, a supportive online space for female pilgrims, summed it up perfectly: “Sexual harassment is endemic on the Camino.” It feels about as surprising as finding a tourist with a camera at a historic site. You’d think after years of feedback, someone would address this more seriously than a “Well, that’s unfortunate!” response.
Something Must be Done!
Rosie, one of the brave women who spoke out, described her encounter with Mr. Without-Trousers as “terrifying.” And who wouldn’t be terrified? Walking solo on a remote path should evoke thoughts of overcoming personal challenges, not wrestling with bizarre, distressing incidents. Walking the Camino should leave you feeling empowered, not vulnerable – unless you count worrying about tripping over your own feet while trying to escape the next near-encounter.
The Numbers Game
It’s interesting to note the staggering number of women now experiencing the Camino: 53% of last year’s 446,000 pilgrims were women. That’s over 230,000 women striding forth to find peace, and yet, many return with stories of dodgy encounters that’ll make any horror movie director proud. What’s the bet that if we had a tally for these incidents, the numbers would rival those of a small town’s crime rate?
Marie Albert, a journalist and self-styled daredevil, recounted her own encounters on the trail – apparently the Camino comes with its own “choose your own adventure” of harassment. It’s a shame that the journals usually filled with reflections on life take a detour into gruesome tales of public indecency instead.
What’s Being Done?
In 2021, the Spanish government finally woke up from its slumber and launched a safety campaign for female pilgrims. They’ve since created 1,600 informative safety points across Galicia. Because nothing screams “safety” like having a brochure about who to call in the event of an emergency while you’re running for your life! There’s still a lingering concern, however, about the actual effectiveness of these campaigns versus the reality faced by female pilgrims.
A Call for Accountability
It seems there’s been a significant gap between the number of reports of harassment and the desired outcomes from the authorities. Six of the nine women reported their incidents, but the success rate of prosecutions was shockingly low, akin to searching for a lost sock in your laundry – there’s a very high chance you’ll never see that sock again.
Final Thoughts
Every year, more women are taking on the Camino for all its physical and mental benefits, yet they’re met with an unexpected layer of fear. So what’s the takeaway? Ladies, if you’re planning to walk the Camino, do so with a buddy, and maybe invest in a personal alarm. And gents, keep your shorts on and your, well, hands to yourselves. Let’s leave the spiritual journey free from bodily autonomy issues, shall we?
It’s about time we start robust conversations about safety along the Camino—a path meant to inspire awe, not dread. Until then, stay vigilant, and don’t forget: if something feels off, it might be best to take the long route and avoid the “exhibitionists.”
In the wise words of a pilgrim: “When life gives you lemons—make sure they’re not from the suspicious bloke in the bushes.”
Numerous female pilgrims traversing the Camino de Santiago have reported experiencing harrowing episodes of sexual harassment in secluded areas throughout Spain, Portugal, and France, leaving them shaken and fearful.
In extensive interviews, nine women recounted troubling harassment incidents while making their way along the revered pilgrimage route over the last five years, with several expressing genuine fear for their personal safety.
Seven women disclosed unsettling encounters with men in Spain and Portugal, where they faced lewd behavior, including a distressing incident where one man pursued a pilgrim through the rugged countryside after exposing himself.
Another courageous woman described how she successfully defended herself against inappropriate touching and crude remarks from a group of men, while a different pilgrim recalled a frightening encounter with a man in a van who insisted she enter his vehicle as she walked alone. These alarming situations predominantly transpired along remote paths of the Camino, often when the women were isolated.
Lorena Gaibor, founder of Camigas, a supportive online community for female pilgrims since 2015, expressed that while these reports were deeply alarming, they were unfortunately common. “Sexual harassment is endemic on the Camino. It feels very common. Every freaking year we get reports of women experiencing the same things,” she emphasized.
In a chilling account, Rosie, 25, shared her shocking experience from earlier this summer, where on a woodland path in Portugal, she stumbled upon a man exposing himself as he watched her. In her moment of distress, local police were unresponsive when she sought their help.
“It was terrifying,” said Rosie, preferring to keep her last name confidential. “I just felt completely alone at that point.” The encounter left her grappling with feelings of peril, making her acutely aware of her vulnerability as a solo female pilgrim.
Marie Albert, a journalist, feminist writer, and self-described adventurer, critiqued the insufficient dialogue surrounding the dangers confronting female pilgrims. “These routes are said to be safe for women and there’s a taboo around saying anything different,” she lamented.
In 2019, during her 435-mile (700 km) trek across northern Spain towards Santiago de Compostela, she chronicled multiple aggressive incidents. She faced unwanted advances, including one man trying to kiss her and another exposing himself, while also receiving harassing text messages from another man who persistently followed her. Alarmingly, some of her harassers were fellow pilgrims, leading her to dread running into them again.
Of the nine women interviewed, six chose to report their experiences to the authorities. However, only one perpetrator was ultimately apprehended and faced prosecution.
High-profile cases have shed light on concerning incidents along the Camino. In one such incident in 2018, a 50-year-old Venezuelan woman was allegedly kidnapped and raped by two men while walking in northwestern Spain. Similarly, last year, a 48-year-old man was arrested in connection with the forcible detention and sexual assault of a 24-year-old German pilgrim.
The safety of female pilgrims received increased scrutiny in 2015 when American pilgrim Denise Thiem vanished while journeying through rural León. Her disappearance prompted other pilgrims to bravely share their own unsettling encounters before a court handed a 23-year prison sentence to a Spanish man for Thiem’s murder in 2017.
In 2021, the Spanish government initiated a safety campaign that has since expanded to 1,600 designated points throughout Galicia, where female pilgrims can find crucial information in multiple languages on how to reach emergency services if needed.
Johnnie Walker, one of the administrators for the Camino de Santiago All Routes Group—a popular social media community boasting over 450,000 members—highlighted the longstanding frustration regarding the absence of comprehensive statistics on harassment incidents, even as measures to combat these occurrences have intensified.
“As the number of pilgrims has grown, so have reports of men exposing themselves to pilgrims,” he noted. “In response, the Guardia Civil has increased patrols on numerous routes.”
His forum has long advised pilgrims in Spain to download the AlertCops app, an essential tool that enables direct police communication. “There’s always the balance to be struck between warning women and causing alarm,” he explained. “However, a few of us feel that this issue now needs to be addressed more forcibly and coherently across the country.”
Despite efforts to gather feedback and address these concerns, police in Spain and France, along with the respective interior ministries, did not provide a response regarding this pressing issue.
When questioned about whether a formal record exists to track incidents of harassment among pilgrims over the past five years, the Spanish central government’s delegation in Galicia stated that they were unaware of any reported cases of sexual assault involving female pilgrims.
It emphasized various initiatives to protect pilgrims, including specialized police patrols along key routes and a standardized protocol mandating security forces be deployed each time an emergency call is received from a pilgrim.
• The national 24-hour rape crisis helpline in Ireland is at 1800 77 8888.
– The Guardian
Bers—has highlighted the ongoing concerns regarding safety for women on the Camino. He noted that despite the established safety points, many women still feel apprehensive about their journeys due to past experiences or the stories they’ve heard from others.
While the government’s measures are a step in the right direction, many critics argue that more robust action is needed. Marie Albert stated, “Until there is a serious commitment to address harassment and violence against women on the Camino, many will continue to avoid walking alone.”
the stories shared by these women serve not only as a wake-up call but also as a reminder that while the Camino de Santiago offers spiritual growth and personal reflection, it should not be clouded by the fear of harassment. The beauty of this pilgrimage is overshadowed by an urgent need for community support, awareness, and stringent legal action against perpetrators to ensure a safe and welcoming environment for all pilgrims. Until we see significant changes, female pilgrims are encouraged to remain vigilant, prioritize their safety, and advocate for a Camino experience free from threats and intimidation.
