On the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, an event moderated by Clara Rosselló brought together experts in education and psychology, as well as the testimonies of two women who have suffered male violence: Carmen and Lorena.
Carmen recounted how, 45 years ago, she managed to separate from her husband after suffering physical and psychological abuse in a context where women lacked resources and had neither social nor institutional support. Lorena, for her part, shared her more recent experience: she separated from her partner and aggressor ten years ago and lived for years “a terrifying day-to-day that you thought would end tomorrow, but it didn’t”.
Both agreed on the need for support to take the step of leaving and to overcome the “shame of separating from the person they had fallen in love with”, a husband who eventually became “the worst monster”.
During the event, Pilar Ribas Torres, Secretary for Equality of the Socialist Federation of Ibiza, highlighted that this year the focus is on vicarious violence, a type of abuse “so cruel that we even find it hard to name it”, defined as situations in which aggressors use their children to harm their mothers.
Vicarious violence: “It is killing to hurt, condemning a woman to a life sentence of pain”
Data from the Government Delegation against Gender Violence reflect the gravity of this issue: at least 65 minors have been killed in Spain since 2013 in the context of gender violence. Ribas described vicarious violence as an extreme act of cruelty: “This is killing to hurt and condemning a woman to a life sentence of pain”.
She noted that a future specific law on vicarious violence is underway and, although it “comes late” for many mothers who are victims, “it is more necessary than ever”.
The PSOE advocates strengthening protection protocols for minors and improving institutional coordination to prevent children from being used as instruments of violence. “We cannot accept that children become tools of emotional torture”, Ribas said.
The Socialist Federation of Ibiza completed its programme of activities for 25N with two additional events. On Friday, 28 November, at 7 pm, the Federation’s headquarters will host the talk ‘The treatment of victims in the UFAM’, given by National Police Deputy Commissioner Jimena López. On Saturday, 29 November, at 6 pm, the film ‘I am Nevenka’ will be screened at the headquarters of the Socialist Group of Sant Josep, followed by a debate moderated by deputy Milena Herrera on the case and its relevance today.
Victims of male violence and their close circles can seek help through various resources available every day, 24 hours a day: the helpline 016, the email 016-online@igualdad.gob.es, and the WhatsApp channel at 600 000 016. In an emergency, you can call 112 or the emergency numbers of the National Police (091) and the Civil Guard (062). If you cannot make a call, the ALERTCOPS app also allows you to send an alert signal with geolocation directly to the police.