- The winners were the presenter Henar Álvarez Díaz; the first president of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Spain, Ana María Crespo de Las Casas; the founder of Somos Refugio, Emilia Lozano Díaz; the national police Milagros Gómez Álvarez; the civil guard María José Vera Martín; the official Virginia de la Fuente; the trade unionist Nati Camacho García-Moreno and, posthumously, the jurist Concepción Escobar Hernández.
- The recognitions, which have celebrated their third edition this year, are promoted by the Government Delegation in Madrid in the framework of the commemoration of March 8, International Women’s Day.
The Government Delegation in Madrid has delivered today the III Recognitions ‘8M. 8 Women, 8 Reasons’ in which he has distinguished eight women for their outstanding trajectories on the road to real and effective equality between men and women.
The women recognized in this edition have been the presenter Henar Álvarez Díaz; the first president of the Royal Academy of Sciences of Spain, Ana María Crespo de Las Casas; the founder of Somos Refugio, Emilia Lozano Díaz; the national police Milagros Gómez Álvarez; the civil guard María José Vera Martín; the official Virginia de la Fuente; and the trade unionist Nati Camacho García-Moreno. He has completed the eight recognitions, the distinction posthumously to the internationally prestigious jurist and professor of Public International Law at the UNED, Concepción Escobar Hernández.
All of them deserve this distinction for their commitment to equality from their different fields of activity and influence. “Today we have celebrated trajectories and courage”, defended the delegate of the Government, Francisco Martín Aguirre, who presided over the act of dedication held today at the Espacio Mujer Madrid (EMMA), and thanked all those recognized for making Spain “a better country”, because “when a society recognizes its women, it recognizes itself”.
The event, led by journalist Marta Nebot Sánchez, was also attended by: the Government’s deputy delegate in Madrid, Pilar Trinidad Núñez; or the director of the Women’s Institute, Cristina Hernández Martín; among other authorities.
In his speech, the delegate said that “a society that recognizes its women, is a society that recognizes itself” and warned of the risks of the negationism of male violence, which supposes “tremendous irresponsibility and a setback of rights when it becomes government decisions”. In this regard, he has stressed the “unwavering commitment” of the Government of Spain to equality and in the fight against gender violence.
Referents in equality
The historic trade unionist Nati Camacho García-Moreno She was the first of the winners to receive recognition for a life dedicated to equality since the defense of social and labor rights, being a protagonist in the trade union resistance to the Franco regime.
Camacho thanked the distinction and dedicated it to all the women who were pioneers in trade union resistance: “It cost us a lot, but we were able to protest, defend ourselves, organize ourselves and that feeling of a certain success is not going to be taken away from us.”
Then, it has been delivered to Virginia de la Fuente, for its dedication and commitment as head of the El Pardo Dam for 29 years, the only category A dam (those whose breakage or improper operation can seriously affect urban centers, essential infrastructures or cause very high material/environmental damage) managed by the Tajo Hydrographic Confederation in the Community. “Working on what one loves is already a prize, being recognized is a privilege,” said Virginia, visibly excited.
In the field of State Security Forces and Corps, the Delegation has distinguished the Civil Guard María José Vera Martín, for being a pioneer in the Institution when accessing the first promotions that admitted women, as well as for its outstanding contribution to the fight against gender violence from the VioGén Team of the Getafe company of which it is part since 2007.
In reference to her work, María José wanted to remember that “behind every case of gender violence there is a story and, behind every intervention, there is a new opportunity for a woman to live without fear”.
The agent of the Provincial Citizen Security Brigade of the National Police has also received recognition, Milagros Gómez Álvarez, for exemplary representation of the first link between citizenship and police response in the Citizen Service of Room CIMACC 091. Milagros has stressed the importance of “that first attention” that has allowed him to have direct contact with the citizens. “An invisible voice, but essential from where we listen, protect and defend rights and values,” he added.
For its part, Emilia Lozano Diaz, founder of the NGO Somos Refugio, has been awarded for making a reality this great solidarity project focused on supporting unaccompanied and extutelated young migrants in street situations.
After recalling her trajectory as a feminist activist, Emilia has denounced the injustice and conditions suffered by young migrants who arrive in our country and has asked the institutions to care more about those boys “who are not criminals”. “When they arrive here they are Spaniards, they are our children and we must treat them as such,” he said.
Likewise, the Government Delegation has awarded the prize to Ana María Crespo de las Casas, who made history in 2024 when she was elected president of the Royal Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences of Spain, becoming the first woman to lead the institution in its 177 years of existence. In this regard, Ana María has recalled that when she entered the Royal Academy there were only three women and currently they represent 26%.
The event has continued with the award being awarded posthumously to the renowned jurist, academic and diplomat Concepción Escobar Hernández, Picked up by his widower. “In a world where the law of the strongest seems to prevail, my wife would have defended multilateralism, dialogue and the use of international law for a more just and peaceful world,” he said.
Finally, the presenter Henar Álvarez Díaz She has deserved the award for being a key figure in feminist communication and humor. Precisely the communicator has shared the recognition with all the comedic women, comrades of profession, who have “broken their faces with all the managers” of the places where they have worked.
The recognitions have been held in the EMMA space, a center dedicated to the integral care of women in Madrid and, especially, those of its closest environment in the district of Puente de Vallecas.
III Edition of these recognitions
The Recognitions ‘8M. 8 Women, 8 Reasons’, convened on the occasion of the commemoration of 8 March, International Women’s Day, aims to present eight stories, both daily and extraordinary, of women who have fought for improvement and equality.
The third call was launched at the end of January by the Government Delegation, with an open period during which citizens, associations and institutions have been able to present the candidacies of women who, with everyday or extraordinary stories, are examples of overcoming and fighting for equality.