Virginia Barcones highlights the pioneering role of the first women to join the Civil Guard

• The delegate of the Government participates in the days held in Valladolid on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of the incorporation of women into the Armed Forces, where she has highlighted the “courage” of those pioneers • 197 women were part of the 94 promotion, the first mixed promotion of ropes and guards in history • In the last five years the number of women in the Benemérita has increased by two points so that there are more than 7,000. In Castilla y León they fulfill service 598

June 14, 2023.- The government delegate in Castilla y León, Virginia Barcones, has highlighted the role of the first women to join the Civil Guard. She highlighted this role as “pioneers” during the day organized by the Command of Valladolid to commemorate the 35th anniversary of the incorporation of women into the Armed Institute and in order to raise awareness of the current situation of women in this group and promote their greater presence in the Civil Guard.

Virginia Barcones has participated in a conference that, held at the headquarters of the Government Delegation in Castilla y León, has had several round tables in which members of the State Security Forces and the Armed Forces have participated. During the conferences, some of the most important milestones of women in their process of integration in the Benemérita have been toured.

Virginia Barcones has meant the Civil Guard’s capacity for evolution and transformation to adapt to social, cultural and economic changes. These changes include the incorporation of women into their ranks.

SINCE 1988

In February 1988, the presence of women at the Armed Institute was regulated. In that first year, 2,817 applicants took part in the entrance exams. They enter the body 197. “Taking that step was not easy,” he said, acknowledging the footprint of those pioneers of the late 1980s.

In this regard, he stressed that the incorporation of women into the Civil Guard has gradually increased. In this way, today there are more than 7,000 agents that are part of the 80,000 members of the Benemérita throughout Spain. “This represents 9% of the total and yes, it is a low percentage, but you know that the goal is to reach 30% in 2030”, he added to highlight that in the last five years this presence has increased by two points.

Likewise, it has highlighted the role of the 598 agents (569 in the Area and 29 in the Traffic Sector) who carry out their work in Castilla y León where they also have a presence in almost all the specialties of the Institution. “I see in you the values of honesty, professionalism, loyalty and selfless work that are typical of the Civil Guard. Values that are recognized by the whole society,” he said. In Valladolid the number of female agents amounts to 64, which represents 8% of the total workforce, and they occupy positions ranging from commander to trainee student.

The government delegate has indicated that the Civil Guard is aware of the importance of women in its ranks. Therefore, in the last year, it has carried out an Equality and Diversity program for agents of all jobs in such a way that 5,699 people have participated in 564 training actions. These courses imply that the process of evolution and transformation remains “latent, alive”.

EQUALITY PLAN

Virginia Barcones recalled that four years ago the Plan of Equality in the Civil Guard was presented that aims to establish and develop policies that integrate equal treatment and opportunities between women and men within the Benemérito Corps, without differentiating directly or indirectly on the basis of sex. Also, promote and promote measures to achieve equity within the organization, establishing equal opportunities between women and men as a strategic principle of its institutional policy.

The Plan seeks, in addition to promoting women’s access to the Corps, their permanence and professional promotion. Likewise, it seeks to make the potential, motivation and involvement of each person profitable; to adapt personnel policy to the needs of women and men, and to promote measures on equality between women and men that contribute to improving the work environment.

A key purpose of the Plan is to correct issues that may lead to future discrimination on the basis of sex. For this reason, its continuous evolution is necessary as the realities on which it is based change. “The commitment of the Civil Guard,” said the delegate, “is therefore not restricted to the development of the Plan itself, but extends to its implementation, monitoring and evaluation.

The Plan incorporates gender equality in access and promotion processes, as well as in destination/specialty changes with the aim of improving opportunities and decreasing the number of waivers. It improves the application of the gender perspective in the allocation of staff schedules and in the physical conditions of the work environment.

It moves towards a more balanced presence in all jobs and in all specialties (taking into account the jobs in each specialty). According to Barcones, “in fact, today women are present in practically all Civil Guard Units.”

The Equality Plan implements measures and actions aimed at encouraging women civil guards to be present in the governing bodies of the Corps, such as the Civil Guard Council.

It also seeks the reconciliation of personal, work and family life and the consolidation of real equality in the remuneration of men and women in the workforce, correcting possible deviations.

It also proposes decisive interventions to improve the prevention and eradication of different types of harassment, sexist attitudes, discriminatory treatment based on sex, gender or sexual orientation and other gender violence.

The Civil Guard has strengthened the Women and Equality Area, as well as equality training in all Civil Guard training plans. It has also been concerned with improving the non-sexist use of language and non-stereotyped images of women and men in institutional communication.

Virginia Barcones has shown her conviction that the role of women in the Civil Guard is going to be increasingly greater because “talent does not understand the sexes”, and women are doing things well in the different areas of the Corps.

Finally, he encouraged the women who are part of the State Security Bodies and Forces to “continue working” so that their presence for security in the streets is “normal and not the exception.” “May our citizens feel proud of you, safe and secure as you pass by,” he added. He has also encouraged them to work to be the reference for future generations, so that today’s girls will be “responsible and proud civil guards tomorrow.”

ROUND TABLES

During the event held in the auditorium of the Government Delegation in Castilla y León, Virginia Barcones was accompanied by the Subdelegate of the Government in Valladolid, Alicia Villar, the accidental Lieutenant Colonel Chief of the Civil Guard, Javier Peña, as well as representatives of the Civil Guard, National Police, Local Police and Army.

The commander of the Psychology Service of the Command of Valladolid, Elena González, has been the moderator of the round tables that have been developed. The first colloquium was entitled ‘Equality Plan in the Public Administration’; the second talk was called ‘Women in the FFCCS in the Province of Valladolid’ and counted on women from different security bodies; the last round table was entitled: ‘Past, present and future of women in the Civil Guard’.