“Among the main objectives on gender violence proposed by the Government Delegation, they are to continue improving coordination and institutional response to women suffering from gender violence and to bring protection resources closer to victims, increasing information, dissemination and awareness spaces, as well as promoting professional specialized training.”
The Head of the Coordination Unit Against Violence Against Women, Laura Segura, appeared before the media this morning to take stock of the activity of the Unit throughout the year 2024.
In this regard, it has highlighted the impetus given by the Unit for the Renewal of the Agreement between the Ministry of the Interior and the Autonomous City of Melilla for the incorporation of local police forces into the System of Integral Monitoring of Cases of Gender Violence (VioGén System), and the renewal of the Agreement between the Ministry of the Interior and the Autonomous City of Melilla for the incorporation of its competent units.
On the other hand, he recalled that during this year 2024 the signing of Action Protocols for the promotion of the Violet Point in the General Administration of the State in Melilla and improvement of actions against male violence has been formalized. “Through these protocols, the staff of each Administration received basic training in gender violence and on the Punto Violeta instrument and we have distributed printed material among the existing offices in Melilla,” he said.
“We have worked intensively to address all male violence against women, beyond those carried out in the context of the couple or former couple, such as trafficking in women and girls for the purpose of sexual exploitation, sexual exploitation, sexual assault, prostitution or forced marriages, and to pay special attention to the most vulnerable female victims and their minor sons and daughters,” he said.
Segura added that the Unit has disseminated the different studies published on gender violence, monthly statistical bulletins and has carried out activities and training sessions of interest in the field of violence against women.
Coordination and collaboration
At the same time, he highlighted the continuity and work of the follow-up tables, “since they are fundamental organs for the sharing and coordination, of all the agents involved.” On the other hand, the continuity of the Bureau of associations and NGOs, “which is a fundamental space for proposals for improvement, detection and prevention in situations of gender violence, but, above all, in other forms of violence against women,” he said.
“The Police Coordination Table, which has been convened by this Unit, is of special interest since in 2020 we carried out the updating of the Protocol of Collaboration and Coordination between the State Security Forces and Bodies in Melilla and the Local Police of the Autonomous City of Melilla, for the protection and follow-up of victims of gender violence,” he said.
Segura, in her speech, also wanted to highlight the joint work that has been carried out with the Educational Programs Unit (UPE) of the Ministry of Education, Vocational Training and Sports (MEFPyD), being fundamental the coordination and activities carried out with the people responsible for Equality of the different centers of the city and those that have been initiated with some cloisters.
“Activities such as the ‘Violet Suitcases’, suitcases that have traveled through the different centers of the city and that at this moment are in the CEIP León Solá and in the Colegio Buen Consejo, or other awareness activities that are being developed every year in education for prevention from the earliest ages,” he has exemplified.
Finally, he wanted to have words of recognition for the work carried out by the State Security Forces and Bodies, Local Police, Court, Prosecutor’s Office, Bar Association and the Center for Information and Integral Attention to Women, as well as by all the institutions involved, whose collaboration in this fight remains “key”, he acknowledged.