Spain is marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women today, as tens of thousands take to the streets across the country to call for an end to gender-based violence. Over 40 marches are scheduled, serving as a stark reminder of a crisis that remains one of the most pervasive human rights violations worldwide.
Data from the United Nations show that nearly one in three women globally has experienced physical and/or sexual violence at some point in her life. Despite the severity of the issue, the UN has noted that less than 5% of global government aid goes to tackling gender violence, and a mere 0.2% goes toward prevention measures.
Institutional acts and separate marches in Madrid
The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is also being commemorated through various institutional events and marches across Spain, including in Madrid. There, for the third consecutive year, the feminist movement will march separately—though for the same cause. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez inaugurated the event organised by the Ministry of Equality at the Pavón Theatre in Madrid. He was accompanied by six ministers, including Ana Redondo (Equality) and Óscar Puente (Transport and Sustainable Mobility). The Ministry of Equality presented recognitions to individuals and institutions notable in the fight against gender violence. They did this under the campaign slogan “Ni una más, ni una menos” (Not one more, not one less).
Throughout the afternoon, rallies across Spanish cities amplified the call against gender violence. People marched through the streets in locations such as Barcelona and Seville. In Barcelona, the platform ‘Novembre Feminista’ has organised a demonstration under the banner ‘The shame and fear for the aggressors’. Further south, in Seville, the Movement Feminist de Sevilla will march with the message ‘NO to violence against women’. In Madrid, the feminist movement remains divided. The Comisión 8M and other feminist organisations held separate demonstrations. Herewith, reflecting differences in views on issues such as the trans law and the regulation of prostitution.
Violence escalates in Spain: 42 women killed in 2024
Recent murders in Estepa, Seville, and Orihuela, Alicante highlighted again the sombre reality of gender violence in Spain. The killing of a 15-year-old girl by her ex-boyfriend and the murder-suicide involving a couple in Estepa have brought the total number of victims in Spain to 42 this year.
Ana Redondo, Spain’s Minister of Equality, expressed her deep sadness at the latest tragedies. Speaking on TVE, she acknowledged the magnitude of the problem. “The scale of violence is enormous, and so is the deep-rooted machismo that continues to poison our society”. Redondo emphasized the importance of community support in helping victims come forward, particularly in rural areas, which often face unique barriers and heightened stigma.
“Too often, women are terrified, living in a state of absolute control,” Redondo added. “We can’t always expect them to take the first step, but their community—those who know what is happening—must intervene.”
Why November 25th?
The United Nations designated the 25th of November in 1999 as the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in memory of the Mirabal sisters. The secret police of dictator Rafael Trujillo brutally killed the three on this day in 1960 for their political activism in the Dominican Republic. Their deaths became a symbol of the fight against systemic oppression. UNESCO recognising that their only crime was the demand for their own and others’ rights. In 1993, the UN General Assembly took a significant step by adopting Resolution 48/104 to address violence against women. It defined violence against women as any act of gender-based violence resulting in harm or suffering. Whether physical, sexual, or psychological. As Spain rallies today, the calls for change are louder than ever. Furthermore, they form a push for more investment, more prevention, and, crucially, more justice for victims of gender violence.
Don´t be silent
The Policia Nacional urges victims not to be silent and to call 091. They say their Family and Women’s Care Unit has as its main objective to improve security and provide assistance to women who suffer from violence. Moreover, if you are a victim of gender violence, you are not alone, they are here to help you.