The Ministry of Equality has addressed a letter to the autonomous communities, Ceuta and Melilla and to the municipalities, through the Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (FEMP), in which it reminds them what type of activities can be financed with the funds of the State Pact against Gender Violence. These actions are framed within the axes and measures of the Covenant and are also considered current expenses.
The Ministry distributes 180.2 million euros to CCAA and municipalities for the development of the State Pact against Gender Violence. Specifically, it is 140.2 million for the autonomous communities and cities and another 40 million for the municipalities, with which they must finance programs to combat gender violence in 2024.
The objective is to articulate a comprehensive, effective and coordinated response from all institutions competent to prevent and combat violence against women; to maintain and improve, throughout the territory of the State, the network of resources, services and benefits for the protection, assistance, support, recovery and reparation of victims of violence against women; to promote actions to raise awareness and prevent violence against women and to strengthen the training of all professionals working with victims, in order to guarantee the best institutional response.
The letter, sent through the Government Delegation against Gender Violence, also warns the administrations that no activity or project that does not comply with the established requirements will be funded.
In this sense, 7,880 local entities participate in the distribution of these funds, whose execution period is from July 1 (when the funds are distributed) until June 30 of the following year.
In its letter, the Ministry recalls that in case of detecting any misuse of the funds, “the return of the funds will be requested immediately”. Administrations are also urged to make this information known to their intervention services, which must monitor the proper use of funds.
Although the vast majority of municipalities and autonomous communities correctly apply the funds, so far this year a total of 12 projects have been detected, corresponding to 2023, of 12 municipalities that are not bankable. They account for 0.15% of the total number of municipalities receiving funds. In the case of autonomies, two projects of an autonomous community have been detected.
In all these cases, the Government Delegation against Gender Violence has informed the relevant administration that these projects will not be funded and that they must remove the logo of the State Pact against Gender Violence.
In addition, 22 other projects of 17 municipalities are being studied, which may not comply with the requirements, and these municipalities have already been contacted for more information.