The data on gender violence in Spain is unacceptable. Unacceptable. Shameful. In the last month alone, in an absolutely black December, 11 women were murdered by their partners or ex-partners and at least 49 during the entire 2022. Year in which, in addition, at least 38 minors were orphaned by the murder of their mothers in gender violence events.
Numbers, however, that are only the tip of the iceberg of what is today, without a doubt, the main social scourge.
Of course, our absolute condemnation and rejection of any behavior of this nature. It is impossible not to feel anger and pain for so many deaths and unjust victims. In the Canary Islands, 101 women have been murdered since 2003. Let's assume once and for all as a duty not to look the other way. Maximizing compliance with all prevention and protection measures, and involving the whole of society in this task.
But also contributing to a better understanding of gender violence and the actions and public policies to prevent it. Promoting education with a gender perspective and improving the coordinated response of the administrations. No more shouts, blows or humiliations. Sexism kills and we need a sense of responsibility from everyone to stop it.
It is very worrying to know social indicators that alert us to the growth of denial of gender violence among young people. Or that many girls who are the object of these sexist behaviors are not able to identify themselves as victims. We need and must stop this reality that is doing so much damage to us and threatens to normalize. Anyone in the Canary Islands can call 112 to report a situation of gender violence. But, above all, let's stop contributing to the dissemination of discourses that deny this nonsense.
Speeches that, in most cases, come precisely from those who day after day strive to divide us, spreading disinformation and fueling agitation with direct damage to our values of coexistence. Let's not look away and move to action. Enough of lamenting lives that could have been saved. Women's rights, and of course their life and freedom, are human rights. Anyone who suspects violence against a woman should report it or call so that it can reach the Prosecutor's Office.
In the PSOE we have always been clear about this and that is why we have long turned this fight into a State matter, promoting the Comprehensive Law against Gender Violence, the State Pact against Gender Violence or more recently improving the protection of orphaned victims of gender violence.
For its part, in the Canary Islands, the Government of progress presided over by Ángel Víctor Torres has tripled in this legislature the volume of aid granted to women victims of gender violence in the islands, has amplified awareness actions and has promoted the advancement and improvement of public resources to assist these victims and their sons and daughters. And all this with a purpose of maximums: to make the Canary Islands a more just and egalitarian land.
Because ending gender violence commits us as a party, but above all as a society and as a democracy.
Let's not stop until we defeat it. Let's not stop until we eradicate it.
Nira Fierro is Secretary of Organization of the PSOE Canarias and president of the Socialist Parliamentary Group in the Regional Chamber.
