De la indignación al activismo: una respuesta urgente a la violencia contra las mujeres – Blog

A review of 2024, marked by gender violence: abuses, murders and setbacks in equality. How to channel outrage into change?

[Este artículo lo han escrito conjuntamente Julia Pedreira (investigadora predoctoral en ISGlobal), Paula del Rey Puech (Public Health Specialty Registrar en la UK Health Security Agency), Blanca Paniello Castillo (investigadora predoctoral en ISGlobal) y Elena Marbán Castro (Scientific Officer en FIND). Todas ellas forman parte de Women in Global Health Spain.]

It’s a year to be angry. Throughout 2024, we have seen news of gender violence in all areas: from wars in which women have been used as weaponsto “closer” cases, such as violations continued for more than nine years perpetrated by Dominique Pelicot and more than 100 men to his wife in Franceabuses committed by politicians, rape accusations against Mohamed Al-Fayed in the United Kingdom, and the murder of Olympic athlete Rebecca Cheptegei in Uganda at the hands of her partner, Dickson Ndiema. To mention a few.

To top off the year, accusations of abuse of power and sexual abuse have been published against a self-proclaimed feminist politician, Íñigo Errejón. And, if that were not enough, the entire world has witnessed the election of donald trumpdeclared guilty of sexual abuse, as president of one of the most influential countries in the world, which puts women’s rights in sexual and reproductive health issues at risk.

Gender violence beyond classes, borders and cultures

To this we must add the situation of women and girls in Afghanistanwhere they have been stripped of all their rights and dignity, and face brutal and systematic oppression that seems to have no end. AND is Iranthe government the government continues to punish them for not wearing the mandatory veil despite the “Women, Life, Freedom” uprising.

All of this leads us to ask ourselves: if we cannot feel safe at work, or in bars at night or even during the day, or in political spaces, or at home with our own partners, why isn’t the entire society ? Taking to the streets indignantly, demanding responsibilities from all institutions? Why don’t we demand a mandatory subject on «equality» that is taught from school to university and updated every year? ¿Why don’t we demand radical changes? In the oppressive and patriarchal system in which we live?

Gender violence is not an isolated phenomenon, but a reality that affects one in three women in the worldaccording to data from UN Women and the World Health Organization (WHO). These figures remind us that despite legislative advances, we are facing an emergency that requires collective and determined action.

Misogyny among young people: are we going backwards?

According to the National Institute of Statistics (INE), The number of women victims of gender violence in Spain increased by 12.1% in 2023until reaching 36,582. In addition, cases of domestic violence also increase by 12%. The Ministry of Equality reports that Since 2003 there have been 1,285 women who have been murdered by their partners or ex-partners. These figures are a painful reminder of the need to strengthen prevention measures and act decisively to eradicate violence.

In fact, despite advances in gender equality, violence is increasing among younger generationsand many kids have more conservative views on gender equality than previous generations. An increasingly large number of them show an affinity for misogynistic rhetoric Delaware influential people like Andrew Tate, believing that feminism is against them. Our society has not only stagnated in some areas of equality and rights, but has gone backwards in recent years.

Men: a key piece of the solution

Today there are more than 1,583 legislative measures in 193 countries aimed at combating gender violence, but prevention remains insufficient. Only one in ten initiatives specifically target men, leaving a gap in efforts to transform patterns that perpetuate violence. It is crucial that we focus our efforts on educating and raising awareness of those who have a key role in change: men and boys. Only then can we imagine a future where women can live without fear.

Considering all this, how is it possible that there are still men who dare to say that? #NotAllMen? Of course, we know (we hope) that not all of them commit acts of violence against women, but they should reflect on why they make excuses before becoming alarmed by violence against their colleagues, friends, sisters, mothers, neighbors…

We continue forward

If this year has shown us anything, it is that there is a lot of work to do to achieve a just and equal society. We should be furious about the number of cases of gender violence and its normalization in films and social networks.

Despite everything, we will continue looking for reasons to remain optimistic and raise awareness about gender violence, focusing on the aggressors and those around them as part of the problem and part of the solution. As a society, we will continue to look for ways to raise awareness and educate to children, young people and adults about their individual role and the collective responsibility of the system in which they live when it comes to perpetuating gender violence. we will continue giving visibility and accompanying to the victims without losing sight of the aggressors. we will continue looking for ways to communicate the values ​​of feminism and equality even if they jump over the defensive walls. We will continue searching solutions and trying to understand the causes of this increase in violence, especially among younger boys.

In a time when social networks and algorithms connect us but polarize us and misinform us, we have to: inform ourselves, form alliances, channel this anger into activism and build on the struggle of our predecessor generations looking to the present and the future.

Today, 25N, and always, we demand equality and the end of violence against women because #SeAcabó will remain silent.

If you want to know more

This has also been a year of reflection and visibility. In 2024, several documentaries have been released that focus on gender violence in Spain: