Ciudad Real.- The delegate of the Government of Spain in Castilla-La Mancha, Francisco Tierraseca, has highlighted the "very important progress" in the protection of victims of gender violence in the region, thanks to the signing of the agreements of the municipalities with the Ministry of the Interior to join the VioGén System.
This was highlighted by Tierraseca in the Committee on Assistance to the Government Delegate that was held in Ciudad Real - due to the itinerant nature of these working meetings - in which she also convened the heads of the Violence against Gender Violence Units of the five subdelegations and the Coordination Unit of the Government Delegation.
The government delegate in Castilla-La Mancha, Francisco Tierraseca, reiterated the importance of the incorporation of local municipalities and police in the region into the VioGén system as “the best element in the fight against gender violence”, and thanked the joint work carried out between institutions to expand and strengthen a system “that has achieved significant results in the protection of women victims of gender violence in Castilla-La Mancha”.
In the course of the Commission, Tierraseca has highlighted that, in the last four years, the number of municipalities incorporated into the VioGén system has increased from 5 to 33, “which represents a very important advance and increase in the number of local police involved.” “These data demonstrate the effectiveness of the established agreements, as well as the active involvement of local authorities in the protection of women at risk,” he concluded.
As a result of the ongoing negotiations, the signing of 14 new agreements with various municipalities in the region is almost complete, including Albacete, Toledo, Almansa, Villarrobledo, Tomelloso, Mora, Sonseca, Bargas, Ontigola and Bolaños de Calatrava. These agreements will expand the coverage of the VioGén System, ensuring greater protection and support for women victims of gender violence in these localities.
The alarming data reveal that “more than 4,400 women in Castilla-La Mancha require some form of protection due to active cases of gender violence,” said Tierraseca. Faced with this reality, it is necessary to provide all the tools to protect victims and combat violence against women and, therefore, the Commission has agreed to make an appeal to all municipalities with Local Police on the importance of their incorporation into the VioGén System and has urged the immediate signing of pending agreements.
It should be noted that the year 2022 was the worst year recorded in terms of women killed by gender violence in Castilla-La Mancha, with a total of 7 victims. Since 2003, 55 cases of women murdered in the region have been recorded, and unfortunately, so far in 2023, one case has already been reported, in the province of Ciudad Real.
Therefore, the government delegate has called for action and collaboration from all local authorities to address this problem. “The signing of the pending agreements is essential to guarantee the protection and safety of women at risk; every day of delay represents a greater risk for these women, so it is a priority to act promptly,” he said, also urging society as a whole to reject and denounce any form of male violence, promoting a culture of respect and equality.