Speech by the President of the Government at the event commemorating the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

Madrid

Ministers, President of the Board of Trustees of the Prado Museum, Director General of the Prado Museum, dignitaries, members of associations, ladies and gentlemen, friends, prizewinners,

As you know, for some years now every 25 November we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. We do so at an event that recalls the women who have lost their lives at the hands of their partners, and that recognises all those who dedicate their time and efforts towards helping them emerge from the vicious circle of violence in which they are caught up.

I would therefore like, first of all, to offer my heartfelt recognition to each and every one of the female victims who died over the last year, and for their young children who have lost their mothers. We share the pain of their families, and in the name of the Government, I say that they are in our hearts and in our minds.

I am also speaking to those women who suffer abuse in any of its forms in silence. All of them should know that they are not alone, that we are with them, that we are all with them.

I would also like to salute all those people, organisations and institutions that today have received their well-deserved recognition for the important work they carry out and their commitment to the fight against gender violence.

Gender violence is the most extreme expression of abuse and inequality, and represents an unacceptable violation of human rights in a society committed to the values of equality and dignity. So as long as there is a single victim of gender violence, our priority must be to improve the protection and response we offer to them and their families.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The most important message today is that there is a way out and you are not alone. The whole of Spanish society is with you. You have the solidarity and true support of the Government and the institutions, as well as the associations and professionals who work every day, and work very well as I have seen, to help you to emerge from this hell of abuse.

We are all with them and it is to them, to you, that I address myself. I urge you to ask for help, to take that step needed to break the vicious circle of abuse. Let there be no doubt: you have many resources with you: you have the 016 call line - which I had the chance to visit a few months ago - you have the chance of reporting this and you have many professionals who are prepared to help you.

Fortunately, many women have already been successful. Eight out of every ten have managed to escape from abuse and that is a door that opens to hope. Our main goal on a day such as this is to state clearly that those who are suffering today can go back to living a normal life and enjoy the happiness they deserve in the company of their loved ones. And on this, I would like to stress, we are all together.

The victims have support from the unity and consensus achieved through the comprehensive 2004 Act and the National Strategy for Violence against Women, which coordinates efforts at all levels. They have access to the public system of resources we have constructed between us all; and I would like to stress that when faced with a drama of this nature, unity and consensus are the keys to success and must continue to form the basis of our actions in the future, because the victims demand it from us and because we owe it to them and to society as a whole.

Ladies and gentlemen,

If we look back, we can see how much progress we have made in recent years in terms of rights, resources to support victims, the training of the agents involved and raising awareness. As a society, we have the merit that all the people of Spain - and I mean 98% of society - today reject gender violence. We can also proclaim with pride that Spain, thanks to the efforts of all, has become a model country in this fight, in a model of response, an example for many others.

However, there is much to do and this is what we all have to address in the future. I have just visited facilities in the Region of Madrid, a specialised unit attending adolescent women who are victims of gender violence. It is a pioneering resource in Spain that responds to an alarm signal which is beginning to be detected and for which a response is required; the fact is that the profile of victims is changing. There are increasingly more adolescents who in their initial relations with their partners suffer situations of control and violence; often through the social networks, with conduct involving control or lack of self-respect that provide a serious warning as, if we don't detect it in time and work with them, they can lead to more serious problems; and also because at that age we are in time to act, to put a stop to aggressive behaviour.

I know that this is a question that concerns families, and with good reason. We know that adolescence is a difficult age and the social networks are something that parents don't understand or can't control as we would like. That's why prevention at school is so important.

The Minister of Education, who is with us today, could tell you about the strong commitment of his department to prevent gender violence in the classroom, educating in equality and promoting values of respect for rights, and the integrity and dignity of people from infancy.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am convinced that this is a battle we are going to win, and I say that because every day more people are tackling this situation. Today we have recognised the work of some of them. As you know, there are many forms of violence against women. We've talked about abuse, but there is also genital mutilation, trafficking in women and girls for sexual exploitation or the sad reality of forced marriages.

There are therefore a number of people and initiatives which we have wanted to recognise publicly this year. Among them, the jury has chosen the testimony of eight women victims who wanted to share their experience in the second edition of the television programme "Amores que duelen" (Loves that hurt), a programme that aims to raise awareness with respect to the different forms of gender violence. It already won the prize a year ago and has done so again this year. Pilar, Virginia, Ángeles, Karin, Miriam, María and Patricia are with us here today. Their example is a sign of hope and support to many women. Together with the recognition they are owed I would also like to thank them for their brave testimony, because it is of value, of great value.

In the area of associations, there has been recognition for the international work of the Mundo Cooperante organisation and UNHCR; Mundo Cooperante for its work to stop female genital mutilation and UNHCR for leading and coordinating international action for the protection of refugees, safeguarding the rights and welfare of many women.

The jury has also wanted to highlight the progress made in removing barriers for female victims with disabilities, through the Spanish Conference for the Deaf, and specifically through the SVisual video interpretation service. Thanks to its work, today 016 is more accessible than ever, and proof of this is the growing number of calls being received every day, which is reassuring for everyone.

We also recognise two companies: Correos and Mutua Madrileña. They have been picked out for the work on raising awareness with a great social impact. Their commitment to a society free of gender violence, working through the Red de Empresas, network of companies of which 91 entities form part, is fundamental. That is not only because it publicises a good cause, but also because it offers work to many women for whom employment represents the chance to emerge into a new life of independence and freedom.

Finally, we also recognise three people who have stood out for their commitment to the eradication of violence against women. I am referring first of all to the posthumous award to Soledad Cazorla; she was a woman who as the first public prosecutor specialising in this area, was an example of conviction, commitment and effectiveness; second, the expert populariser and teacher José Antonio Burriel, among whose many merits is his involvement in a fundamental area of action: prevention among young people and of school age; and Mabel Lozano, the director, producer and documentalist, for her commitment to girls and women who are victims of sexual exploitation.

I offer my congratulations to her and to all the winners. Her dedication honours the women we recall today.

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am coming to the end of my speech. In Spain, the fight against gender violence is and must continue to be a policy of State; a common goal on which we have been working many years, combining our forces with the participation of all: women's associations, professionals, all the levels of government, and of course civil society.

This effort has not been in vain. Today the people of Spain have a wide-ranging legislation to deal with the violation of the rights of women. Real progress has been achieved in the last decade with victims who are minors or women with disabilities, who have devices adapted to their needs; with a national network of safe houses and individual protection plans. I could tell you about other landmarks, such as the extension of the right to free justice to all the victims so that nothing prevents them from reporting their aggressors; classifying aid as non-seizable assets; and ending scandalous situations such as the possibility that a murderer can collect a widow's pension or inherit from his victim.

None of this, I should say, could have been possible without the involvement of all in the fight against gender violence. Because of this, today on 25 November we want to express our gratitude for the work of so many people, institutions and the increasingly stronger involvement of society.

And now I conclude. Today symbolises the most dignified response to the most undignified injustice: repeated and aggressive violence against the human rights of women and girls for the mere fact of them being so.

That is why, and I will end as I began: with an emotional recollection of those who unfortunately are no longer here; with a message of hope for those who are immersed in this violence, want to emerge from it and still don't know how to do so: Call 016, because this call will not only return you to the life you deserve, but you may even save it; and with immense gratitude for all the people committed to the fight against gender violence: all those here present, the media, the women's organisations and associations, social workers, health personnel, members of the security forces and judges and prosecutors. And of course, and very particularly, gratitude to those selected by the jury today, because your commitment shows that there is a way out, that there is no place for resignation and that a society without gender violence is possible. And it shows, therefore, that you have to continue with the fight.

Thank you very much.