This Thursday, the Lanzarote Forum Against Gender Violence gathered on Calle Real to commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.
The events began at 6:30 p.m. with a parade that started in the area known as Las Cuatro Esquinas and silently walked along Calle Real to the old Cabildo, where the extraordinary gathering took place.
During the events, the manifesto prepared by the Forum was read, the "ball of wool" staging was developed by the volunteers of the women's associations present on the island, Tiemar and Mararía, and an emotional tribute was paid to the 52 women murdered to date. Likewise, those gathered there observed a minute of silence and two awareness campaigns were screened.
The musical note of these events was provided by the Tías Music School "musicando" who collaborated in the events of the Forum by performing two musical pieces.
Read the full manifesto:
MANIFESTO OF THE LANZAROTE FORUM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE
NOVEMBER 25 INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
EVERY NOVEMBER 25 WE COMMEMORATE THE INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR THE ELIMINATION OF
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
51 YEARS AGO THREE OF THE "MIRABAL SISTERS" WERE MURDERED.
THESE WOMEN HAD THE COURAGE TO FIGHT FOR THE POLITICAL FREEDOM OF THEIR COUNTRY,
FIRMLY OPPOSING ONE OF THE MOST FERROUS TYRANNIES THAT HAS HAD
LATIN AMERICA, THAT OF RAFAEL LEONIDAS TRUJILLO. ATTITUDE FOR WHICH THEY WERE PERSECUTED,
TORTURED, RAPED AND IMPRISONED SEVERAL TIMES AND FINALLY BRUTALLY MURDERED.
IN THEIR HONOR WE REMEMBER THAT THE FIGHT FOR THE ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN
IS A MATTER OF DEFENSE OF HUMAN RIGHTS.
THE MOST INFAMOUS EXPRESSION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN CULMINATES WITH THE DEATH OF
WOMEN AT THE HANDS OF THEIR PARTNERS OR FORMER SENTIMENTAL PARTNERS, BUT UNFORTUNATELY THE
PATRIARCHAL CULTURE IN WHICH WE ARE IMMERSED ENSURES THAT VIOLENCE AGAINST
WOMEN OCCURS IN EACH AND EVERY ONE OF THE AREAS IN WHICH WE DEVELOP OUR
LIFE.
WE INSIST: VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS NOT ONLY PHYSICAL. THE SUBMISSION AND CONTROL THAT
CULTURALLY HAS PERSISTED IN OUR SOCIETY IS ALSO MANIFESTED IN MISTREATMENT
PSYCHOLOGICAL, SEXUAL ABUSE, DEPRIVATION OF ECONOMIC RIGHTS, SEXUAL ABUSE TO
MINORS, GENITAL MUTILATION, TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL EXPLOITATION OF WOMEN, RESTRICTION OF
SEXUAL AND REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM, HARASSMENT IN THE SOCIAL, LABOR AND EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT.
FROM ITS BEGINNINGS, THE "LANZAROTE FORUM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE" HAS HAD AMONG
ITS FUNCTIONS TO PREVENT, RAISE AWARENESS AND PROMOTE ACTIONS FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT OF
REAL AND EFFECTIVE EQUALITY OF OPPORTUNITIES BETWEEN WOMEN AND MEN THAT HELP TO
ERRADICATION OF GENDER VIOLENCE IN ANY OF THE SENSES PREVIOUSLY
MENTIONED.
HAVING SAID THIS AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE MEDIA COVERAGE THAT THIS DAY HAS, WE WANT TO HIGHLIGHT
ANOTHER OF OUR FUNCTIONS: TO DENOUNCE.
IT IS OUR OBLIGATION TO DENOUNCE THE DISASTROUS CONSEQUENCES THAT WILL GENERATE THE
CURRENT CUTS IN PREVENTION AND ELIMINATION OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN.
ACCORDING TO THE LATEST REPORT ON MORTAL VICTIMS OF GENDER VIOLENCE FROM THE COUNCIL
GENERAL OF THE JUDICIAL POWER, "72.5% OF THE WOMEN WHO DIED IN 2011 MAINTAINED THE
AFFECTIVE BOND WITH THEIR AGGRESSOR AND 74% HAD NOT REPORTED IT", THAT IS, 7 OUT OF 10
DEAD WOMEN DID NOT FIND THE SUPPORT OR SOCIAL, INSTITUTIONAL RESOURCES,
LEGAL, ETC., SUFFICIENT AND NECESSARY TO PROTECT THEMSELVES AGAINST THE AGGRESSOR AND REPORT
YOUR SITUATION OF VIOLENCE.
52 WOMEN HAVE DIED THIS YEAR, AND TODAY WE WANT NOT ONLY TO PAY THEM AN EMOTIONAL
TRIBUTE ALSO REMEMBER TO THE ENTIRE SOCIETY THAT PLATFORMS SUCH AS THE FORUM AGAINST
GENDER VIOLENCE IN LANZAROTE WILL CONTINUE TO DENOUNCE THAT WE WILL ONLY AVOID
MISFORTUNES LIKE THESE IF WE ACHIEVE EFFECTIVE EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN, AND,
THE REAL IMPLICATION OF THE ENTIRE SOCIETY IN GENERAL AND OF ALL ADMINISTRATIONS
PUBLIC IN PARTICULAR.
THE ECONOMIC CRISIS CANNOT BE AN EXCUSE FOR SETBACKS IN MATTERS OF VIOLENCE OF
GENDER AND EQUALITY POLICIES.
THE DRASTIC CUTS THAT THE CURRENT GOVERNMENT IS IMPOSING ARE THE IDEOLOGICAL REFLECTION
OF CERTAIN CONSERVATIVE POSITIONS THAT CONDEMN US TO GO BACK IN THE ACHIEVEMENT OF
RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS.
WE ARE NOT GOING TO ALLOW THE CONQUEST OF EQUALITY AND RESPECT FOR HUMAN DIGNITY AND
THE FREEDOM OF PEOPLE IS A SECONDARY OBJECTIVE BECAUSE WE WOULD BE
ALLOWING THE ECONOMIC CRISIS TO BECOME A CRISIS OF VALUES THAT JUSTIFIES
INJUSTICES, WHICH DESPISES HUMAN RIGHTS AND ITS CITIZENSHIP.
WE CAN MAKE A POSITIVE ASSESSMENT OF THE ACHIEVEMENTS MADE DURING THE LAST
YEARS BUT THE SHORTCOMINGS WERE and ARE IMPORTANT, AND WE MUST DEMAND THAT THEY BE RESOLVED
TO COMBAT AND ELIMINATE GENDER VIOLENCE.
WE MUST GET INVOLVED, BE AWARE THAT THIS IS A COMMON TASK AND NOT HAVE TO
REGRET ANY OTHER MURDER.
MANIFESTO OF THE LANZAROTE FORUM AGAINST GENDER VIOLENCE 2012 FIGHTING DAY
AFTER DAY FOR THE ACHIEVEMENT AND CONSERVATION OF THE RIGHTS CONQUERED IN FAVOR OF
A MORE JUST AND EQUAL SOCIETY.
