The year 2023 ends with at least 55 murdered due to gender violence, 6 more than in 2022, and a tragic summer

Women's organizations describe the year as "disappointing", "sad" and "chilling" and ask for "strong actions"

The year ends with at least 55 women murdered due to gender violence, exceeding the figure for 2022 that left 49 fatalities. Furthermore, as of December 4, there are two cases under investigation in 2023, which was also marked by a 'black' summer since, of the at least 55 deceased, 16 of them were murdered in the months of July and August, at that you have to add two minors.

The number of murdered women this year reaches 1,237 since 2003, when this data began to be collected. Likewise, sexist violence has left at least 56 orphaned minors this year.

The summer of 2023 has been one of the most tragic in sexist violence in the last 20 years, with 16 murdered, eight cases in July and eight in August, so it was once again confirmed that the seasonal factor increases the risk, as as the former Government delegate against Gender Violence, Miguel Lorente, explained in an interview with Europa Press.

On the other hand, according to the balance sheet of the Ministry of Equality, in 41 of the 55 cases there was no prior complaint, neither requested by the victim nor by others, which represents 74.5%. This is an issue that worries both the department and the Observatory against Domestic and Gender Violence, of the General Council of the Judiciary (CGPJ), which have recently appealed to the environment.

Precisely, the president of the Observatory, Ángeles Carmona, stressed a few days ago, in statements to Europa Press, that the complaint is "very important" so that, on the one hand, "there is no impunity" and, on the other, to launch the mechanism of protection "in its entirety". "We do not want there to be abusers who think that they will not receive all the action of justice," she highlighted.

For all these reasons, the Association of Women Jurists has assured, in statements to Europa Press, that this year has been "disappointing", "sad" and "chilling" due to the numbers of murdered women.

"Multiple reasons such as fear, risk of being re-victimized (not believed, questioned, not respected, etc.), the slowness of processing and processes, and all the resistance mean that as civil society and those close to the victims we have the responsibility of a greater involvement, denouncing and showing greater rejection and reproach," he stated.

For this reason, it has called the State Pact against Gender Violence a "priority", which "defines the priorities for action within the limits provided for by it and its objectives, thus recognizing that the needs are taken into account and guaranteeing the non-discretionary use of funds".

Likewise, they have indicated that they expect "an improvement in care for victims in rural areas and intervention actions with victims who withdraw their complaint." Furthermore, he has highlighted the "disparity" and "unequal manner" of the courts when it comes to protecting victims.

"We demand greater feminist social policies because we are facing a significant deficit that requires institutional action under the principle of due diligence," he stated.

"STRONG ACTIONS"

From the Alliance Against the Erasure of Women, in statements to Europa Press, they have denounced the exclusion of the Government pacts to "stop trafficking and prostitution" and that "the increase in sexist murders and sexual assaults in 2023 does not has found a proportionate response from those who until now were in charge of equality policies".

"We celebrate the extension of maternity and paternity leave but we regret that the express recognition of surrogacy as a form of violence against women has not been accompanied by forceful actions to stop the exploitation of foreign women by Spanish citizens," they have regretted.

In this sense, they have stressed that, by 2024, they hope that the new Executive will "recompose" relations with women's movement organizations. However, they have explained that the expectations that the change of ownership in the Ministry of Equality could have generated "have given way to concern regarding statements by the new minister, which predict immobility in some of the issues that concern the agenda of women".

Finally, the APRAMP association, which fights to combat trafficking in women, has indicated, in statements to Europa Press, that this coming year they will continue to develop their work based on their Strategic Plan that responds to their mission and vision.

"Build a society free of violence and exploitation where people recover freedom and dignity, with survivors being total protagonists, being at the center of the entire project and working with them in the fight against human trafficking in all its forms and for the restitution of their rights, freedom and dignity," they add.