The Head of the Coordination Unit against Gender Violence of the Government Delegation, Laura Segura, has highlighted that the Government of Spain has approved the Royal Decree that regulates financial aid to victims of sexual violence included in the Organic Law of Integral Guarantee of Sexual Freedom (LOGILS).
“They are very important financial aid with which the Government of Spain advances in the care, accompaniment and integral recovery of victims of sexual violence,” he stressed.
“We must reach out to the victims who are not alone and that the Government of Spain will continue to activate and make available to them all the mechanisms of the rule of law for their accompaniment and attention and to continue fighting machista violence,” he said.
The agreement, approved yesterday in the Council of Ministers, aims to guarantee economic autonomy and thus facilitate the comprehensive recovery of the most vulnerable victims. Article 41 of the Act recognizes the right of victims of sexual violence to receive financial assistance when their status as victims of sexual violence and lack of financial means is established.
As Segura explained, the Royal Decree establishes that the aid will go to both women and children who are victims of sexual violence. In addition, it determines the means to prove the status of victim, beyond the strictly judicial sphere: a conviction, a protection order or any other judicial resolution that agrees on a precautionary measure; a report of the Public Prosecutor’s Office; a report of the social services; a report of services specialized in equality and against gender violence; a report of the reception services…
In the case of victims of trafficking, an accreditation of the public services responsible for the comprehensive care of these victims will suffice. On the other hand, in the case of minors, it will also be possible to prove the situation of a victim of sexual violence with official health documents of communication to the Prosecutor's Office or the judicial body.
Istanbul Convention
As the Head of the Unit has pointed out, with this aid the Executive of Pedro Sánchez fulfills two commitments. On the one hand, to develop the LOGILS and, therefore, advance in the improvement of the protection of the victims of sexual violence and take another step in the promotion of the feminist agenda.
On the other hand, there is also compliance with an international commitment such as the development of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the Istanbul Convention.