More Protection, Less Violence for Women Here

Over the last two decades, there has been a 30% decline in the number of females assassinated in Spain as the country makes progress to curb violence against women.

The Sistema VioGén – named after Violencia de Género, or gender-based violence – systematically analyzes all data on homicides to better understand the risk factors, patterns, and possible triggers in order to deploy strategies that improve the fight against this criminal phenomenon.

A statistical study conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs has shown that 71 homicides against women were recorded in 2003, and in 2022, that number fell to 50 for a 29.57% decline. To better analyze this evolution, the 20 years were divided into two cycles of 10 years. Therefore, from 2003 to 2012, there were 659 homicides against women, and from 2013 to 2022, 526 for a 20.18% decline, confirming a downward trend during those two decades. Sistema VioGén helped improve protection for female victims of gender-based violence by adopting new and improved protocols adapted to each specific case. In the following months, Sistema VioGén II will be implemented to improve the risk assessment mechanisms for victims who enter the protection system. Professionals of the State Security Forces and Agencies will undergo training and specialization to reinforce the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ institutional mechanisms in its fight against gender-based violence. On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the United Nations reminded us that violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread human rights violations worldwide.