Rooted in recognition of ‘brutal inequality’, Spain’s law against gender violence is a success story
Legislative reforms, especially the Integral Law against Gender Violence, have been instituted a whole system of protection and care for survivors.
When it seemed that gender violence did not exist for most of society or that it was a matter of “passionate anger”, Ana Orantes put a face, voice, and words to it. The abuse she suffered at the hands of her husband, this woman born in Granada in the south of Spain, entered Andalusian homes in 1997 when she told on television the hell she had been living for 40 years. Only 13 days after her television appearance, José Parejo murdered her.
The case was a shock. Over the years, Ana Orantes not only became a symbol but also contributed to the legislative reforms that made Spain a pioneer in the implementation of public policies against gender violence and a benchmark at the European level.
This is how the country is perceived from the outside, where the Integral Law against Gender Violence, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is often highlighted as the jewel in the crown.
François Kempf, a member of the secretariat of the Group of Experts against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence of the Council of Europe, GREVIO, which ensures compliance with the Istanbul Convention by the States, emphasises: “Spain has been a pioneer in adopting a comprehensive approach to combat gender violence, anchored in...
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