The Equality Crisis Committee points to coordination between institutions: half of those killed in December reported

Eight sexist murders in less than a month. A spike in femicides in December prompted the Ministry of Equality to convene the first crisis committee this Wednesday morning, an unprecedented body which was approved by an industry conference last July. Equality, together with the Ministries of Justice and the Interior, the Prosecutor of the Chamber of Violence Against Women and representatives of the autonomous community where the murders took place, met to analyze each case, investigate what could have gone wrong and make new recommendations. .

His conclusions are preliminary at this time, and so are his recommendations. “Gravity doesn’t make hot decisions,” said the Secretary of State for Equality, Angela Rodriguez, after appearing before the crisis committee. Both she and the government delegate against gender-based violence, Victoria Rosell, who also appeared, raised some of the issues the committee had put on the table. One such point was the need to strengthen coordination between institutions and actors involved. And this is that half of the eight women killed in December denounced their attackers.

2022 was the year with the fewest sexist murders on record, which began in 2003. A spike in femicides in December has led to 46 women being killed so far, a number that could rise to 48 if there are two confirmed cases. which are currently under investigation. Two other women, who were attacked at two different locations, are in a serious condition in hospital. 2021 ended with 48 men who killed their female partner or ex-partner, and 2020, the year of the pandemic, with 49.

Among the preliminary findings of the crisis committee, there is also a link between the killings and the celebrations. 75% of femicides occurred on weekends or holidays. “This is not an accidental or insignificant figure,” emphasized the Secretary of State for Equality, who during these days called for extreme caution from both institutions and society in general. June, July and August, on the one hand, and December and January, on the other hand, tend to be periods of particular risk due to increased cohabitation, the government delegate noted for his part.

“We have issued a warning to institutions and citizens. If you have any questions, it’s better to call,” said Angela Rodríguez, who recalls that 016 is available 24 hours a day, as well as the Alercoops app, which allows you to immediately contact state security forces and authorities. “We have to be very careful, there is a big risk during the holidays. All institutions and actors must work tirelessly in the coming days to try to anticipate any possible situation. We are telling the public not to underestimate any of the references we have around. that in case of any situation, even if it seems insignificant, we call 016”, he said.

One of the most striking figures for this increase is the number of women who reported their attackers: half of those killed in December did so. Up to 40% of women killed throughout the year filed complaints with the police or the courts, significantly higher than in other years. Although in the last two years the status of a victim of gender-based violence has been accredited through medical reports or social services, only complaints, such as protection orders, can be activated.

Angela Rodríguez spoke about the need to have “inter-agency coordination systems” so that information from the judiciary, police and specialized services flows in all directions. “We have to try harder, it’s never enough. There is specialization, but there should be more, there is coordination, but there should be more.” According to Rodriguez, some of the attackers were also repeat offenders.

Another course of action discussed in the crisis committee was to take more specialized measures for women with specific vulnerabilities. A government delegate against gender-based violence explained that some of the murdered women had, for example, a disability, were eight years old or suffered from addictions, different situations for which resources are not always adapted. “We need specific resources or places that are adapted to these situations,” he said. Rosell also talked about training, in this case for home care and health care workers who sometimes and after the murders report that the woman was abused. Another issue discussed at the meeting was the expansion of the Viogen system to include all women with protection orders.

The Crisis Committee’s findings and preliminary recommendations will now be forwarded to the Equality Sector Conference for analysis and implementation. Crisis committees, as stipulated in their creation, will meet when there is a peak of femicides, more than five, in a short period of time.