- The Government Delegation in the Basque Country awards for the eighth time these awards to institutions, associations and outstanding people in their fight against gender violence
- Marisol Garmendia is “excited to recognize and thank her for the immense work of the winners for combating inequality and gender violence and for her fight for the dignity of women”
- “These Meninas make us believe again in the best of the human being, in the public service of an administration and in the spirit of collaboration of volunteering and the force of community work. They give us hope and make us believe in the transformative power of solidarity”
- The delivery of the Meninas will take place next November 21 in Azkuna Zentroa of Bilbao
The Department of Employment, Social Cohesion and Equality of the Provincial Council of Biscay, Mariren Alabak Elkartea and Begoña García Arberas will be the winners this year with the ‘Menina 2024 Awards’ awarded annually by the Delegation of the Basque Country to highlight and support the work of institutions, associations and people in the fight against gender violence.
The presentation of these Menina Awards will take place on Thursday, November 21 at 11:00 a.m. in the Azkuna Center of Bilbao in a ceremony that will mark the culmination of the intense awareness campaign, Morado Autumn, developed by the Government Delegation and which has included the installation of 111 Violeta Points in the headquarters and offices of the AGE, the screening of the documentary ‘The reality of Trafficking in our environment’ in San Sebastian, the presentations on ‘Pornosocialization, cybermisogyny and sexual violence’ in the three UPV campuses as well as the exhibition to the free air.
The delegate of the Government in the Basque Country, Marisol Garmendia, is “excited to be able to thank and acknowledge the immense work of the winners for combating inequality and gender violence and for their fight for the dignity of women”. Garmendia explains that these Menina Awards represent the visibility of the Ministry of Equality a fundamental work to eradicate this scourge against women.”
For the delegate of the Government, “these Meninas make us believe again in the best of the human being, in the public service of an administration and in the spirit of collaboration of volunteering and the force of community work. They give us hope and make us believe in the transforming power of solidarity.”
As in previous years, Menina Awards are awarded in three categories:
· Social Collective that has stood out for its commitment in the fight against gender violence: Mariren Alabak Taldea, a Gipuzkoan association that offers a comprehensive and permanent service to women victims of gender violence.
· Project or public initiative highlighted in the Basque area for its capacity to raise awareness against gender violence: Department of Employment, Social Cohesion and Equality of the Provincial Council of Biscay, for its pioneering Observatory of male violence in Biscay.
· Basque citizen who has done outstanding work in the fight against gender violence: Begoña García Arberas, who counts, among many other merits, her position as head of the Unit against Gender Violence in the Subdelegation of the Government in Bizkaia.
WINNING SEMBLANCE
Menina recognition to the Basque social collective
MARIREN ALABAK ELKARTEA. It is a non-profit association, formed by volunteers and professionals all women. It has created a revolutionary project that, since its inception in 2019, is making a difference in the fight against male violence. This project offers a free service of integral and permanent accompaniment; and empowerment of women victims of gender violence from an intersectional perspective, considering the multiple ways in which violence can manifest itself in each of us. The most inspiring thing about this project is that it has been created by women and for women, which makes it unique and extremely valuable.
In addition, it stands out for its innovative approach that continues to grow and expand its services and resources, with a comprehensive and personalized approach, whose objective is to build a network in which the victim of male violence can feel safe. During the year 2023, guidance and job training for female victims who are part of this association have been initiated. Psychological support: It has personnel specialized in psychology and with professional experience in the care of victims of male violence. Legal advice: accompaniment and advice during the judicial process if there is one and to how many institutions it is necessary to attend.
Mariren Alabak is making a difference in the lives of many women, providing a safe, supportive and empowering space for those who have been victims of male violence. Their work of solidarity, strength and resilience is critical, and their positive impact on the community is undeniable.
Menina recognition to the project or outstanding public initiative.
PROVINCIAL COUNCIL OF BIZKAIA. The Department of Employment, Social Cohesion and Equality of the Provincial Council of Biscay has as its mission the design and implementation of public policies favouring social cohesion in Biscay, starting from the universal and transversal principles of equality, equity, solidarity and sustainable development.
In order to tackle male violence, the Department of Employment, Social Cohesion and Equality has a main objective: to prevent violence against women. And it responds with an enormous deployment of resources to an urgent objective: to comprehensively attend to the women who still today continue to suffer this violence, offering professional support and spaces for protection, healing and recovery. Prevention, awareness, care and repair strategies are required, which are present in their different lines of work, and in coordination with different agents of Bizkaia, such as:
• Observatory of Male Violence in Biscay. It is a pioneering observatory in obtaining data on this reality that has favored the knowledge of the impact of male violence in Biscay and that continues to offer valuable information for the detection, attention and prevention of this violence.
• Work with municipalities in Bizkaia, offering awareness-raising tools, managing the funds of the State Pact, analyzing the strategies addressed by them, etc.
• Work with women’s associations to expand networks to detect and guide women in situations of male violence.
• Awareness-raising campaigns against male violence in general and sexual violence in particular.
In the area of care for women victims of violence, they provide the necessary resources to ensure that the victims have the necessary reception resources and residential and housing services, with the necessary support, with multidisciplinary community care services, in addition to the specialized psychological care and legal advice required. And all this taking into account the particularities of each of them, with special attention to the children victims of male violence.
The last service launched by the Department has been the comprehensive care service for victims of sexual violence, which develops care in crisis situations, supports comprehensive recovery and serves, informs and advises the general public. This service has two offices in Bilbao and 24 hours a day care during all the days of the year.
Menina recognition to the Basque citizen
BEGOÑA GARCÍA ARBERAS. Begoña García Arberas has a degree in Geography and History and has been a career civil servant in the Social Security Administration since 1983. After forty-one years of public service he retired on June 14 of this same year and his recognition is his pioneering work and his value in the fight against gender violence. In 2007 she was appointed head of the newly created Unit against Gender Violence in the Government Subdelegation in Bizkaia, in charge of collecting all the data that the Government Delegation against Gender Violence requires for the performance of its functions.
He has also been in charge of relations with the FCSE and the PAV, as well as the state, regional and local bodies involved in the fight against gender violence in the CAPV.
It has left an important legacy for new additions and generations in this field of equality and the fight against gender violence.