- The government delegate in the Basque Country delivered this morning at the Villa Suso Palace in Vitoria the ‘Menina Basque Country Recognitions’ to the Fiet Gratia Association, to the City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz and to the ertzaina Xabier Peña Koka
The government delegate in the Basque Country, Denis Itxaso, presided today in Vitoria over the presentation of the ‘Menina Basque Country Awards’, on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, which is celebrated on November 25.
The ‘Menina Basque Country Awards’ are a thank you to those organizations, associations and people who are especially committed to the eradication of gender violence in its various manifestations. In this seventh edition, the recognitions have fallen to the Fiet Gratia Association, the City of Vitoria-Gasteiz and Xabier Peña Koka, Chief Commissioner of Research at the Ertzaintza Police Station in San Sebastián.
In her speech, Denis Itxaso stressed that “delegating the transmission of sexual affective values to pornography is undermining the pillars of gender equality.” In this regard, he recalled that “the lack of sex education and exposure to distorted gender stereotypes contribute to the perpetuation of male violence in our society.”
In his opinion, “gender violence is not an isolated phenomenon, but a manifestation of profound inequalities rooted in the very structure of society. Women’s marginalization, inequity of opportunity and historical control by patriarchy fuel this pervasive, challenging and devastating violence.”
The government delegate recalled that “the responsibility to eradicate male violence is a moral duty that transcends any consideration. The fight against male violence requires a profound transformation in the social, educational and judicial structure. Educating in equality, sensitizing society, legislating with justice and acting forcefully are indispensable pillars on this path towards a more equitable world.”
Itxaso has also emphasized the need to eliminate economic inequalities between men and women in order to combat gender violence. “Guaranteeing women’s economic independence is an essential factor in reducing subordination and the lack of outlets that make permanent many relationships whose violent dynamics have resulted in chronicles,” he said.
Winners of the Menina Basque Country Awards 2023
Menina recognition to the Basque social collective: Association Fiet Gratia
Fiet Gratia is an association that works together with State Bodies and Forces on the issue of trafficking in women. Since 2020, she has been working in the Basque Country focusing on strengthening the detection of victims and possible victims of trafficking in human beings and women in vulnerable situations in prostitution contexts.
It also focuses on making women aware of the support network that they can access, within the Basque Country, through the services provided by both private social entities and public bodies, with which they work together. During these three years they have served more than 950 women in situations of vulnerability in prostitution contexts.
We highlight its work of training and sensitization both to agents involved in working with women in this situation and to society in general through participation in conferences, conferences and in the organization of sensitization activities.
Menina recognition to the Project or outstanding public initiative: City Council of Vitoria-Gasteiz
The City of Vitoria-Gasteiz provides training to businesses and hotels in the prevention of male violence. The staff of shops and hotel establishments will initiate an important initiative such as training courses in the prevention of male violence. This initiative is part of the campaign that was promoted by the Equality Service last year and that has been worked with commercial and hotel associations since then.
The commitment and involvement shown by this group has been fundamental for the City of Vitoria-Gasteiz to have decided to offer basic training on the principles of gender equality. The training will be face-to-face and will include information on how to identify situations of male violence and the actions that must be carried out before them, as well as raising awareness about the serious consequences that male violence has on society and information about the resources existing in the city to help those who are in situations of vulnerability.
Menina recognition to the Basque citizen: Xabier Peña Koka
Xabier Peña Koka has been a vocal from October 2020 to the present at ANAI (National Association of Equality Agents), an association that promotes the development of the profession of Equality Agents. The research, study and dissemination of knowledge in the field of Equal Opportunities, both in the business fields and in the fields of municipal, community and national action, become its main mission.
Xabier Peña Koka is an expert in Equality and Gender, in training in Police Mediation, Equality Officer, expert expert in evaluations of labor conflicts due to sexual harassment or due to sex and remunerative auditor in the field of equality.
In addition, he is Chief Research Commissioner of the Ertzaintza Police Station of Donostia, member of the Process Team on Gender Violence in the Ertzaintza, former member of the Equality Group in the Ertzaintza, expert and auditor in Quality of the Standard ISO/9001/2000-2008-2015 in the processes of Gender Violence and Detention, expert in Male Violence, Gender Violence, Domestic Violence, Vicarious Violence and Filio-parental, graduated in Clinical Psychology and Multidisciplinary Domestic Violence.