The subdelegate of the Government, María Rivas, opened today a day dedicated to the analysis of the regime of visits in cases of victims of gender violence. At the opening of the day, the Provincial Chief Commissioner, Carlos Gómez Rodríguez, also intervened.
This event was attended by about 100 registered people, professionals working in the field of care for victims of gender violence; it is part of the activities scheduled around November 25, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
Not her speech, the subdelegate stressed the importance of this day, stressing that it is part of the Government’s ongoing commitment to combat gender violence. "We will continue to organize meetings of this kind to improve our work, provide resources, train and inform," he said.
The day also commemorates the 20th anniversary of the Organic Law 1/2004 of Integral Measures for the Prevention of Gender Violence, a pioneering regulation that allowed important advances in the protection of victims. María Rivas recalled that, despite the achievements made, gender violence remains a structural problem in our society, affecting not only women, but also their sons and daughters.
The subdelegate stressed the need to pay special attention to the visiting regime in these cases, stressing that the safety of minors must be the absolute priority. "A good risk assessment is essential," he said.
The subdelegate of the Government reported that in the province of A Coruña there are currently 2,655 active cases in VioGén. They are victims of gender violence that require some form of daily protection by the security forces and bodies, “many of the women have daughters and sons in their care that are also our priority.”
During her speech, María Rivas also stressed the importance of continuous and specific training for all professionals involved in the fight against gender violence. "No link in the chain should fail, because a lot is at stake," he said.
The subdelegate stressed that the data from the report of the General Council of the Judiciary reflect the magnitude of the problem: in the first quarter of this year, courts throughout Spain adopted 1,014 measures to suspend the visiting regime, 2.5% more than in the same period of the previous year. In addition, 68.2% of the requested protection orders were granted, which represents a total of 11,783 orders in one quarter.
Finally, she insisted on the need to address the regime of visits in cases of gender violence from a comprehensive and sensitive perspective, prioritizing the safety and well-being of victims and their children. "Only through a coordinated and knowledge-based approach can we move towards a fairer and safer society for everyone."
The main narrative of the day was given by Judge Sonia Rey Salgueiro, head of the Violence against Women Court number 1 in A Coruña.