Xàbia shows its rejection against gender violence in the institutional act of 25N

Friday 26th November 2021 – ÁLVARO MONFORT with Mike Smith

As every November 25, Xàbia has once again said “Enough!”, publicly, to gender violence. The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women should not be celebrated because, in a coherent society, it would not have to be taught, or demand policies for protection and denunciation in the face of a social scourge that threatens, like other problems, against dignity and human life.

However, the fatalities due to gender violence so far this year amount to 37, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of the Presidency, Relations with the Courts and Equality.

In fact, in the symbolic lapidary laid out in front of the town hall during the day, it was obvious that violence against women does not recognise ages or nationalities and of all the women murdered at the hands of their partners, the youngest was 17 years old and the oldest 81, whilst both Spanish and foreign names converge.

Councillor Montse Villaverde (Equality) read aloud the institutional declaration of rejection on behalf of the citizens of Xàbia, supported by councilors, members of the municipal corporation, members of the Xarxa de Dones de La Marina and residents who wanted to participate in this annual event.

Villaverde expressed the importance of violence against women that goes beyond the social sphere and fully affects all competent administrations that must ensure its eradication through real policies, action plans, projects that last over time and through local initiatives . She also highlighted the large wage and employment gap that exists between men and women as a sign of the existing inequality of rights (a fact that XAD highlights every month in its analysis of local unemployment).

INSTITUTIONAL STATEMENT 25N XÀBIA

Once again, we renew our commitment to equality and against gender-based violence, and express our concern at the increasing number of murders of women at the hands of their partners and ex-partners and at the escalation of vicarious violence.

Four decades have passed since Latin America marked November 25 as International Day of Nonviolence against Women in honour of the Dominicans Minerva, Patria and María Teresa Mirabal, three sisters murdered on November 25, 1960 by order of dictator Rafael Leónidas Trujillo, of which they were opponents.

Twenty years later, the United Nations declared the same date as International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. In Spain, the 1978 Constitution enshrines, through its precepts, real and effective Equality, as well as the full participation of all citizens in political, economic, cultural and social life (Article 9.2), Gender Equality Article 14), the right to life, physical and moral integrity, without being subjected to torture or to inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Article 15), the right of the person to freedom and security (Article 15) 17), and the right to personal and family privacy (Article 18). And in 2004, the approval of the Organic Law, of December 28, on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender Violence, was a further step in the fight against Gender Violence.

Despite all efforts, the historical inequality between women and men continues to affect not only their physical integrity but also the recognition of their dignity and that is why, thanks to social awareness and the rejection of citizenship, Spain has been the first country to agree, in 2017, a State Pact against Gender Violence.

At all times, the Local Entities have been and continue to be on the side and side of the victims, driving the political debate so that the public ceases to be private; supporting the legitimate claim to the right of women not to suffer any form of violence; and addressing, from a multidisciplinary approach, the planning of local policies, comprehensive support for victims and the development of awareness and prevention measures aimed at all citizens.

Due to our proximity, the City Councils assume the direct implementation of rules and plans with specific measures that promote equal opportunities, we redouble our efforts in the detection of gender violence, in all its forms and in all its areas and we design, from the defence of women’s rights, comprehensive policies to overcome this a social scourge that has broken thousands of lives.

For this,

• We recognize the seriousness of gender-based violence as a major political, public health problem and a serious attack on fundamental human rights.
  
• We take responsibility in the process of intervening with victims of gender-based violence and defend the principle of reparation in all its phases.
  
• We warn of the increase in sexist murders and express our concern at the vicarious violence and helplessness suffered by orphans and orphans.
  
• We remember that it is necessary to ensure that gender equality and women’s rights are a key element in ensuring the social and economic recovery of all people globally.
  
• We advocate the need to promote consensual global actions that ensure the continuity of policies aimed at eliminating discriminatory social norms and strengthening programs to prevent and combat gender-based violence.
  
• We call for the implementation of local projects and programs that guarantee gender equality in employment and support for women’s entrepreneurship, as measures to preserve their economic independence and prevent gender-based violence.
  
• We reiterate our concern about the high rates of temporary employment of women, which, together with the destruction and fall of employment, warn of a dangerous increase in the gender gap.
  
• We reaffirm our commitment to the State Pact against Gender-Based Violence and recall the need to continue to advance its development.