UN Committee denounces the high rate of femicide

He Committee for the Elimination of Discrimination against Women highlighted the high rate of femicides that occurred in Spain and expressed concern about gender-based violence that prevails in the country despite legislative efforts to create a policy for the prevention and protection of women and girls in its territory.

In its Periodic revision of the country, published this Tuesday, the Committee recognized the work of the country aimed at combating violence against women and cited as an example the approval of the Organic Law of Comprehensive Guarantee of Sexual Freedom, which eliminates the burden of proof for the victim . However, he clarified that the regulation only results in a few short sentences and releases of detainees for gender violence.

The analysis reiterated the predominance of this violence in Spain, which It culminates on numerous occasions in its maximum expression: femicide.

He also pointed out that there are particularly vulnerable groups of women and girls who come to suffer forced marriages and female genital mutilation.

Likewise, he denounced specific forms of gender violence, such as incest and the cyberviolence against women and girls, and stated that currently there are no structures that provide the necessary support to child witnesses of these attacks.

Strengthen the legal framework

In this context, the Committee recommended that the country consolidate policies for the prevention of violence against women, in particular by reinforcing the identification of situations of vulnerability and the prevention of recidivism, in addition to adopting Legislative measures to recognize sexist killings in law and to quickly establish the Femicide Observatory.

It also called on the Spanish Government to evaluate its legal framework to combat gender violence against women and its application in order to strengthen its effectiveness.

With respect to online gender violenceasked the country to take into account the new manifestations of these attacks, such as harassment and hate speech, as well as the attacks against women from minority groups who are subject to discrimination, such as migrants.

To confront these forms of violence, he asked Spain to commit to the European Union for the adoption of a artificial intelligence bill that includes measures to mitigate and prevent the risks of violence against women through the Internet.

More measures against prostitution and forced labor

The Committee also asked Spain for more measures against prostitution, trafficking and forced labor.

The country lacks comprehensive legislation on trafficking, notes the Committee, noting that the Most of the victims are immigrant women and girls trafficked into prostitution and often go undetected by border officials. In addition, “a significant number of migrant women” have been trafficked for compel them to work forcibly in the agricultural sector.

Experts point to “the lack of a holistic approach” to address the demand for prostitution” and “the limited definition of pimping.”

access to justice

Women’s access to justice is another worrying issue according to the Committee, given that despite the existence of specialized courts, criminal prosecution of perpetrators of gender violence is inefficient due to the lack of a judicial culture that adjusts to the Convention on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women.

The specialized body considered that Spain should improve legal assistance to victimsespecially in the case of those who have fallen into human trafficking networks or asylum seekers.

gender stereotypes

The Committee dedicated a section to the topic of gender stereotypes, a field in which it welcomed the strengthening of support for gender equality in society, in particular through the co-responsibility policy that provides for a balanced division of labor between men and women in care and domestic work.

Similarly, he praised the effective prosecution of gender discrimination against women, the strengthening of gender equality education, action against stereotypes in the media through the observatory in charge of identify and remove images that promote stereotypes in the public domain, including the Internet.

Spain must continue along this line, reinforcing the effective prevention and criminalization of sexist conductpointed out the evaluation document.

The next periodic review of the Committee on Spain will be presented in eight years and it will evaluate, among other points, the implementation of the recommendations made in today’s document.