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DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

PM decries ‘cruelty’ of Spain’s domestic violence after five murders in a week

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez on Monday denounced as "unacceptable" a spike in domestic violence that saw five women murdered in the past week by their partners or ex-partners.

Published: 24 May 2021 18:04 CEST

PM decries 'cruelty' of Spain's domestic violence after five murders in a week

Photo: Manu Fernandez/POOL/AFP

Among the victims was a 42-year-old Barcelona woman who was stabbed to death by her husband who then killed himself and a pregnant Moroccan woman who was murdered by her partner who called police to confess.

Their deaths bring to 14 the number of women killed in Spain so far this year by their partner or ex-partner, and to 1,092 the total number murdered since the government started keeping a tally in 2003.

“It is a hard reality, an unacceptable reality,” Sanchez said, denouncing the “cruelty” of the five murders.

“Spain unfortunately suffers a misogynist scourge which means there are men who kill women for being women.

“We can’t look the other way while day after day these murders happen, we must not feel oblivious to pain and fear felt by thousands of women in our country.”

Campaigners attribute the spike in murders to the easing of virus restrictions following the end of a state of emergency on May 9th.

Women are at greater risk of physical violence from an abusive partner when they attempt to leave and this was likely happening more often now that curbs on movement have been lifted, they said.

Spanish politicians have pursued successive programmes to address domestic violence since 1997 when 60-year-old Ana Orantes was beaten, thrown over a balcony and then burned to death by her ex-husband after repeatedly complaining to authorities about his violent behaviour.

Spain’s parliament in 2004 overwhelmingly approved Europe’s first law that specifically cracks down on gender-based violence.

Read more about gender violence in Spain

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Thousands across Spain protest against violence against women

People march during a demonstration marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25, 2021 in Madrid. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)

The rally took place to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, with demonstrations also taking place in Valencia, Seville and other cities around Spain.

In the Spanish capital, marchers wearing purple masks, hats and scarves walked behind a huge banner reading “Enough of male violence against women. Solutions now!”

“Not all of us are here, the murdered are missing,” they chanted as they marched past the Cibeles fountain and other historic buildings that had been illuminated in purple.

“On a global level, it remains a scourge and a huge problem,” Leslie Hoguin, a 30-year-old student and actor told AFP.

“It’s high time that patriarchal violence against our bodies, our lives and our decisions came to an end.”

Many were fed up of the ongoing abuse faced by women.

People march during a demonstration marking the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women on November 25th , 2021 in Barcelona. (Photo by LLUIS GENE / AFP)

“We are sick of the ongoing violence against us which takes many different forms,” said Maria Moran, a 50-year-old civil servant.

“We want to see prostitution abolished and an end to the murders, the abuse and the rapes.”

Spanish politicians have repeatedly sought to address domestic violence issues since 1997 when 60-year-old Ana Orantes was attacked, thrown over a balcony and then burned to death by her ex-husband after denouncing him on TV for repeated beatings.

Back in 2004, Spain’s parliament overwhelmingly approved Europe’s first law cracking down on gender-based violence.

“Eradicating sexist violence is a national priority,” tweeted Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

“We will only be a just society when we are done with all kinds of violence against women,” added Sanchez, a self-described feminist whose cabinet is dominated by women.

So far this year, 37 women in Spain have been killed by their partners or ex-partners, and 1,118 since 2003 when the government started keeping a tally.

Nearly one in three women worldwide has experienced physical or sexual violence, mostly by someone they know, according to UN Women, the United Nations’ organisation for gender equality.

“Violence against women is a global crisis. In all of our own neighbourhoods there are women and girls living in danger,” executive director Sima Bahous said in a video message.

Pope Francis also weighed in.

“Women victims of violence must be protected by society,” he tweeted.

“The various forms of mistreatment that many women suffer are cowardly and represent degradation for men and for all of humanity. We cannot look away.”

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