Pedro Sánchez makes the renewal of the State Pact against Gender-Based Violence an absolute priority in the short term

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

Family photo of the extraordinary plenary session of the National Observatory on Violence against Women (Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo)

This extraordinary meeting was motivated by the seriousness of the most recent figures, which show ten women killed as a result of male violence and seven children killed as a result of vicarious violence in less than 4 months, and in which the renewal of the State Pact against Gender-Based Violence has been set as a priority in the short term.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, chairs the extraordinary plenary session of the National Observatory on Violence against Women | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

The president began his speech with a clear and resounding message, stating that this is a matter of state, and that there is no room for negationist discourse or discourse that dilutes this structural violence by twisting the language.

He then referred to the Organic Law on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender-Based Violence which will be 20 years old in 2024, as well as the State Pact against Gender-Based Violence which he described as a fundamental tool that must be improved, evaluated and adapted to the circumstances of today's society.

After reviewing the figures that demonstrate the forging, in recent years, of a robust system to protect and prevent gender-based violence, and recognising the unprecedented effort made, Pedro Sánchez pointed out that this is clearly not enough and that we must continue to persevere with the policies that are already in place and that work, and also correct any shortcomings and design new mechanisms to combat this structural violence.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, chairs the extraordinary plenary session of the National Observatory on Violence against Women | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

Specifically with regard to vicarious violence, he stressed the need to conduct more in-depth analysis of child murder cases, to strengthen coordination between judicial bodies and between administrations that have competences and powers in this area, and to continue working on training on the gender perspective and children's perspectives for the judiciary, public prosecutors, forensic bodies, assessment teams, social services and child protection. All of these measures, he added, should be very much present in the renewal of the State Pact against Gender-Based Violence, an absolute priority in the short term.

Pedro Sánchez underscored the importance of all administrations recognising the violence perpetrated against women for the mere fact of being women, and that there should be no room for doubt, nor room for other interpretations that minimise or dilute the severity of male violence and that hark back to a time that is fortunately now behind us.

He also reiterated that we have a magnificent tool at our disposal, in the form of the State Pact against Gender-Based Violence, but that it is imperative that we work to update it. We must have a permanent and expanded framework in place as soon as possible; adapted to the social changes that have taken place since its adoption," he said.

The President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez, during the extraordinary plenary session of the National Observatory on Violence against Women, held at the Moncloa Palace | Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

The president acknowledged his request for an additional effort from all those present: departments of the General State Administration, State Security Forces and Corps, the judiciary and the public prosecutor's office; regional governments and FEMP, social agents, third sector entities and legal operators. We are all part of the same gear, let's do our best to synchronise it even better and let's show our firm commitment to combating male violence," he concluded.

Non official translation