Her name was Iris, she was 35 years old, and she was a mother of a girl and two boys. She was our neighbor, a week ago, any of us could have crossed her on the street...
But no, a series of wrong decisions left her defenseless before her executioner. Last October 22, she was brutally murdered by her ex-partner, who stabbed her brutally until she was lifeless.
Tremendous blow for her entire family (her mother, also stabbed when she tried to defend her) her friends, her neighborhood, El Sobradillo, her city, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the Canary Islands, and the entire State, where there are already more than 40 women murdered by gender violence so far this year, two of them in the Canary Islands. These are the official data, unfortunately there are many more that are still under investigation, according to the feminicidio.net page, more than 80 women have been murdered until the month of October of this year.
A few days ago, October 28, I had the opportunity to defend in the Parliament of the Canary Islands my first Non-Law Proposal, which just revolved around the prevention and protection of women against the scourge of gender violence. I could not start my speech without first talking about Iris, in her memory. For her, and for all the women who, like her, suffered and suffer the horror and anguish of violence on a daily basis, exercised by those who are or were their partners.
My defense was also aimed at women who are afraid to report, and those who, like Iris, reported and were not attended to. In this case because there was not enough evidence, they say. They already have them, Iris did not die, she was murdered. Do they need more evidence? Ah, no, now it's too late.
A shared feeling of rage and sadness unites us these days, while some questions echo in our heads: Why? How is it possible that abused women are still so defenseless? What is failing in this system where women are so often murdered as if it were something natural?
For Iris, for Laura, for all the women of the Canary Islands who have had their lives taken away.
For all their families, to whom we have promised that we will put, not only the laws at the service of justice, but all our will so that the fight against this deadly scourge is a priority in all the institutions of the Canary Islands, starting with the Parliament.
For all the women who suffer, and for those who fight to get ahead and for others to get out. For sisterhood as an engine of change towards a more just and egalitarian society.
When last June 23 we promised our positions in the Canarian Parliament, from the Podemos Parliamentary Group we acquired a firm and explicit commitment with respect to certain matters, one of them is the fight against gender violence, against all forms of gender violence.
On September 23, we registered in Parliament our first PNL on this matter, among other measures we requested a housing alternative for women victims of violence, even if they have not filed a complaint or have a restraining order, within a maximum period of one month, after a report from the Municipal Social Services.
I could not imagine that day, a little more than a month ago, that I would have to prepare the defense of this PNL with such a shrunken heart, that I would have laws to spare and I would lack words to express the indignation and pain that the murder of Laura, from La Palma, and now that of Iris, in Tenerife, has caused us.
I know that this pain is shared by all people with a minimum of sensitivity, that it is not the heritage of anyone, nor of any political party in the Chamber, hence our proposal: Let's listen to the voice of the people, let's make their demands our own and let it reach the Parliament, and especially the Government - which is the one that has the power and capacity to give answers and offer solutions - what women's associations and the feminist movement have been demanding in the streets for so long.
Let the economic crisis not serve as an excuse, let's not forget that if we cut rights, in many cases (without going any further, Iris's) we cut life.
Something is beginning to move in this country, in the Canary Islands and throughout the State, the feminist movements have been organizing for months the great march that will take place today in Madrid, people from all the communities and provinces, buses managed by local organizations, private cars, trains and people who come to shout Enough! Not one less! We want ourselves alive!
In other cities as well, but especially in Madrid, the percussion and repercussion of our steps through the streets is already sensed, a sound that resounds, the earth that vibrates and moves to the beat of an army of women and men who fight for equality, aware that it is the first, essential step, for the construction of a truly democratic system, where women and men can live in peace, in a society free of gender violence.
We can do it!
María del Río, Deputy of Podemos for Lanzarote
