This is a blog whose editors are women, and we write about motherhood, childhood, education, and health. When we talk about motherhood, it's indisputable that we should also talk about fatherhood for many reasons. Raising and educating children is a shared responsibility (in the absence of larger communities); and we are raising children who will shape the society of the future; there's no doubt about it.
It is also obvious to me that we should address an issue as topical as gender violence; and not only because it's on the public agenda, but also because mothers and fathers want to live in a non-violent society. There are so many women and men who refuse to turn their backs on this reality that it's worth addressing the issue rigorously. Since the late 90s, gender-based violence in Spain began to be brought to light (previously, it was suffered in silence) We have more than a thousand women murderedVarious analyses have shown that this figure exceeds that of victims of other politically motivated violence. All victims, not only those who lose their lives but also their families, deserve respect; however, media, social, and political coverage has not always been comparable. Today we're going to discover that violence against women has many more nuances than you think; keep reading and you'll see.
Before, I would like to mention that, following recent reforms to the Penal Code, “gender” is included as an aggravating factor (article 22.4), so probation can be imposed for crimes against life, ill-treatment and domestic violence. Although the protection and treatment reactions to gender violence still leave something to be desired, there are indeed regulatory and public policy advances.
These weeks we have been living (yes, living, because we should be obligated to put ourselves in the shoes of the victims and their families) with rage as women and children are violently murdered. Mobilization and prevention are necessary; and the victims are not limited to the more than a thousand women who have lost their lives. Hundreds of complaints have been filed every day; And do you know how many women are suffering from this violence? According to official data from the VioGén system, there are hundreds of thousands of active, inactive, pending, and discharged cases. This information can be consulted at the Observatory of Violence.
Gender Violence: a multidimensional problem
It is a very clear manifestation of inequalities and power relations / male domination over women. International organizations have noted that violence against women is one of the most silenced crimes in the world.
I have no qualms about showing that gender violence It includes “violence” that we sometimes barely notice.; there are many professionals from different disciplines, and many more anonymous people, who have been reporting this. I refer to the following to explain it: Ministry of Justice of Argentina. The ways in which this violence manifests itself are:
- Domestic: when the dignity, well-being, physical, psychological, sexual, economic or patrimonial integrity is damaged.
- Institutional: when it is delayed, hinders or prevents women from having access to public policies and exercising rights.
- Labor: discrimination at work; wage and promotion gaps for identical responsibilities.
- Against reproductive freedom.
- Obstetric: exercised by health personnel on the body and reproductive processes; expressed in dehumanized treatment, abuse of medicalization and pathologization of natural processes.
- Media: publication or dissemination of stereotypical messages and images that promote the exploitation of women or legitimize patterns that reproduce inequality.
Furthermore, this image from Amnesty International explains how this violence is carried out: sometimes it's visible, other times it isn't; and it's not always done explicitly.
Any victim of gender-based violence suffers consequences to a greater or lesser extent; it depends on their personality and the support available. In some cases, aggression is minimized, denied or justified.Even more serious are the psychological consequences (not to mention the more obvious physical ones): depression, stress, resentment, difficulties in establishing healthy relationships, distrust of other people; sometimes even addictive substances are used (alcohol or other drugs).
I refuse to normalize any type of violence against women, because I am a woman, a mother, but above all a person, and I want a society in which equal relationships are established and the most vulnerable are truly protected.
Key definitions and legal frameworks
The United Nations defines violence against women as any act of gender violence that results or may result in physical, sexual or psychological harm, including threats, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, both in the public and private spheres. The Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing recognized that this violence is manifestation of historically unequal power relations between men and women.
In Spain, the Organic Law on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender Violence defines this violence as that exercised by those who are or have been spouses or people in a relationship of affection, even without cohabitation, when it results in physical, sexual or psychological harm, threats, coercion or deprivation of liberty. At European level, Istanbul Convention It criminalizes all forms of violence against women, including those not inflicted by a partner or ex-partner.
- Physical, psychological, economic and sexual violence.
- Rape and sexual abuse.
- Female genital mutilation.
- Forced marriage.
- Harassment, forced abortion and forced sterilization.
A specific regulatory advance has been the Law of Comprehensive Guarantee of Sexual Freedom, known as “The law of yes is yes”, which places consent at the center, establishes 24/7 crisis centers for specialized care and promotes gender-focused training for police officers, health personnel, forensic experts and justice operators to reduce stereotypes and biases in care and processes.
How violence manifests and escalates: visible and invisible
Gender violence can occur in both the private and public spheres and is not innate, but learned and normalized by cultural patterns. There are more visible forms (injury, sexual abuse, rape, murder) and less obvious ones (economic control, isolation, sexist language and coercive control).
Physical violence
It includes acts of force against the woman's body that cause damage or injury: blows, pushes, burns, fractures, hair pulling, attempted strangulation or murder, and injuries during pregnancy. Although it seems the easiest to prove, sometimes it leaves no visible marks (e.g., a slap) and may become invisible.
Psychological violence
It covers verbal or non-verbal behaviors that generate devaluation or suffering: insults, threats, intimidation, contempt, abuse of authority and demand for obedience (control of mobile phone or email, imposition of clothing), lack of respect, silence and lack of communication, systematic blaming and jealousy that lead to social isolation.
Sexual violence and abuse
It includes any non-consensual sexual act, including imposition by force or intimidation unwanted relationships or practices; also sexual harassment (demanding sexual behavior under threat, in inappropriate places or times, or reacting aggressively to refusal).
economic violence
Conduct and acts of the aggressor to control income and resources, generating economic dependence on women and their children: limiting access to money, deciding how to spend it, prevent work or training and make reconciliation difficult.
Impact on health and the role of health services
The impact of this violence is not limited to the immediate: it causes physical, mental, sexual and reproductive health problems in the short and long term, and affects daughters and sons who live exposed to violence, with consequences for their development and well-being. Health services, especially the Primary Care, have a crucial role: many women contact the system for pregnancy, childbirth, check-ups or careEarly detection facilitates breaking the silence, allows for support and respect for autonomy, and reduces risks climbing.
Health protocols recommend continuing education with a gender perspective, active detection in appropriate clinical contexts, careful registration (with data protection), coordination with social and judicial resources, and accessible psychological supportThe response must be comprehensive, with sufficient resources and inter-institutional coordination.
Barriers to asking for help and personal factors
In addition to violence, they influence Personal circumstances who delay or accelerate seeking help. A significant percentage were financially dependent on the abuser when the abuse began and also when they sought help. Age It matters (many women under 35 react first and those older than 35 react later), maternity (those who do not have children report first) and the level of training (college-educated women tend to take less time).
Among the reasons for delaying in reporting or asking for help are: thinking that “They couldn’t help me”, not knowing “where and how to ask for help”, and fear or ignorance of the judicial process. Support from the environment matters: a relevant party decided to ask for help thanks to the encouragement of a close personConfidence in the measures and in justice is key; therefore, it is essential demonstrate effectiveness protection, streamline procedures and improve public information on resources.
Key facts and trends
Spanish courts receive tens of thousands of complaints each quarter; in a recent period, more than 140.000 were recorded. The number of recorded victims far exceeded 40.000, with a rate of around 18 victims per 10.000 womenMost of the victims had Spanish nationality and more than a hundred were registered. minor victims under guardianship in that same time period.
Since official records began, the number of women murdered exceeds a thousand and the number of children orphaned by this cause amounts to several hundred. Even so, a significant underreporting in the request for formal help: a very large part of the victims of domestic violence, sexual violence and rape does not seek professional help nor complaint, according to official macro surveys.
European evaluation reports recognize the leadership of Spain in regulatory and policy frameworks, but point out shortcomings: insufficient prevention, less attended types of violence (sexual violence, harassment, female genital mutilation) and difficulties in effective judicial protectionImprovement involves strengthening resources, standardizing protocols, evaluating results and combat disinformation and the post-machismo that trivializes the problem.
Multisectoral prevention, detection and response
Gender violence is a problem structural and systemic, which requires a sustained multisectoral response in education, health, social services, justice, employment and the media. In prevention, it is key to work from childhood and adolescence with affective-sexual education, media literacy and models of equal relationship that question stereotypes.
When the damage is already present, it is advisable to articulate pillars of comprehensive care that amplify protection and recovery:
- Detection and confidentiality: Identify signs (repeated injuries, anxiety, isolation) and provide safe spaces.
- empathic listening: explore physical, psychological and social needs, without judgment or pressure.
- Reception and recognition: validate the experience, exonerate the victim and focus on the aggressor's responsibility.
- Risks evaluation: detect extreme danger to activate immediate protection and precautionary measures.
- Psychological and emotional support: sustain the process, even when decisions are complex or non-linear.
- Coordinated support services: health, social, security, legal, housing and employment; promote networks and support groups among peers.
- Care of professionals: training, supervision and support to prevent burnout and improve the quality of care.
In emergency and displacement contexts, UNHCR prioritizes the risk mitigation and the response to gender violence, with two objectives that reinforce each other: reducing the risk of suffering it and ensure timely access to quality services for survivors. In addition, it works with men and people of the sex-gender diversity who have survived sexual assault, strengthening programs and coordination and advocating for adequate resources.
Gender violence has high economic and social costs for victims, families, businesses and administrations. The direct costs (healthcare, justice, shelters) and indirect costs (absenteeism, loss of service productivity, health consequences) impact the entire community, so investing in prevention and comprehensive care is efficient and fair.
For UNHCR, risk mitigation and programmes to prevent and respond to gender-based violence are vital institutional priorities in all areas. UNHCR collaborates with partners, governments and communities to implement quality programs that prevent, mitigate, and respond to cases, safeguarding the rights and well-being of refugees and displaced persons.
Violence against women can have significant costs for the State, victims/survivors, and communities. These are direct and indirect, tangible and intangible costs borne by victims, aggressors, governments, and society at large.
The Government Delegation against Gender Violence informs
Moving towards a society free of gender violence requires zero tolerance for abuse, effective legal frameworks, sufficient resources, coordination between systems and a culture of equality that is built every day at home, at school, in the media, and in institutions. Recognizing all forms of violence, understanding their causes, breaking down barriers to seeking help, and effectively protecting victims are essential steps for girls and boys to grow up in safe environments and for women and men to experience relationships based on respect and freedom.