One of the biggest issues in modern Spain is the amount of unfairness against gender. There is an unprecedented amount of violence going on against women in Spain right now.
The article “How Spain is leading the fight against domestic violence” discusses specific laws introducing key forms. It also states what exactly Spain is doing to stop violence and abuse in partnerships. The fight against domestic violence has been occurring for more than a decade.
Emily Pierce | Argonaut
How widespread is this issue and why aren’t Spaniards changing this issue? El Pais’s article “Gender violence rate rises in Spain for second consecutive year” states that “more than 28,000 women required some form of official protection measure in 2016.” The actual number of women needing protection is 28,281 according to the country’s National Statistics Institute. This is the second year it has risen to 2.4 percent — there is more violence against women than ever before.
The Guardian’s article, “Thousands march in Spain to oppose violence against women” show how much Spain needs to fix. A quote from their article “no more victims, we want freedom,” is telling of how fed up people in Spain are with this issue. This march was followed by a “string of high-profile rape trials,” which is also a problem lumped with violence against women.
The Nation’s article “How a rape trial in Spain ignited a feminist movement” discusses how that very trial stated earlier from The Guardian’s article. Thousands were chanting in front of the beautiful Placa de Sant Jaume in Barcelona’s Gothic Quarter “Yo te creo” which means “I believe you.”
Infuriated, these women had a point to this protest, wanting to change domestic violence and rape policies.
Even the Spanish justice system admits to failing its victims in “gender violence.” Elpais’s article “Spanish justice system admits it is failing victims of gender violence” shines light on Spain’s “failure to protect at-risk women.” The solution? To detect risk and make an assessment conducted by the police.
Though this may not be the answer to everything, there needs to be change to these policies.
All of these articles have different ideas but have similar concepts. All cases including domestic violence and rape should be dealt with in a different way, stopping the increasing injustice against victimized women.
Thinking of the situations these women are in — it is hard to not feel their pain and suffering.
Though the increase of abuse in Spain is very alarming, it is up to the country to decide what to do next.
Emily Pearce can be reached at [email protected]