Spain reflects on ‘failures’ of justice system as it struggles to curb the scourge of femicide
- Spain is seen a front runner in the battle to stamp out gender violence, but in December, 11 women were killed, making it the deadliest month since 2008
- Set up in 2007, the 016 gender violence hotline received its highest-ever number of calls last year, with 102,000 appeals for help
Saved by a neighbour, she went to the police. Until that point, she’d suffered years of emotional and psychological abuse but hadn’t recognised the warning signs and never reported him.
Although Ester escaped with her life, hundreds more have died since then at the hands of partners or ex-partners, with a recent spike in murders prompting widespread soul-searching across the country.
There were a load of things that happened beforehand which I just didn’t recognise for what they were
Spain has long been seen as a front runner in the battle to stamp out gender violence, but in December, 11 women were killed making it the deadliest month since 2008.
Another seven died in January.
In many cases, the authorities have failed to detect the undercurrent of simmering violence. And women themselves often don’t see the warning signs until it’s too late.
“There were a load of things that happened beforehand which I just didn’t recognise for what they were,” admits Ester, now 30, who did not want to give her family name.