Ten figures in Catalan key that show that the feminist fight is more necessary than ever

So far this year, in Catalonia there have been 21 femicides. Twenty-one women who have been murdered by men, mostly by their partner or ex-partner. It is the highest figure in the last ten years. A fact that we remember this Monday 25N, which commemorates the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, but that we should repeat to ourselves every day.

Violence against women It is not only physical, it is also psychological, digital, economic, institutional, vicarious or sexual.. The latter includes any act or attempt of a sexual nature without consent, from non-consensual penetration to inappropriate sexual comments or gestures.

In most cases, the aggressors belong to the victim’s immediate environment. They are usually family members, friends, acquaintances or partners and ex-partners. A reality that illustrates the case of Gisèle Pelicót in France, raped by dozens of men during a decade in which her husband, Dominique Pelicothe drugged her to later offer her body and record the attacks.

At the gates of a new 25N, International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, we have selected ten facts in Catalan key that show that the feminist fight is more necessary than ever to end violence against women.

21 femicides this 2024

The most chilling figure of violence against women is always that of sexist murders. Until this Monday, November 25, there have been 21 femicides in Catalonia. This is the highest figure in the last ten years.. They are women who have been murdered for the mere fact of being women. The deadliest facet of patriarchy is precisely femicides, a transversal phenomenon that does not understand classes, ethnic origins, religions or educational level.

We give names and surnames to these femicides. The first feminicide of the year in Catalonia was on January 28 in Torroella de Montgrí (Girona). Her name was Fatima and she was 44 years old. The sexist crime was committed by Hossain, 39, with whom he had a sexual relationship. The Police found Fátima’s body abandoned in a car. Women who suffer a situation of violence in Catalonia have access to the permanent attention service with the number 900 900 120, free and confidential.. You can also call the emergency number 112.

On June 14, she was murdered by her ex-partner Manuela, 30 years old. The murderer committed the crime in the presence of the victim’s two minor daughterswho were at the time of the crime in the family home in the Torrent del Capellà neighborhood of Sabadell, Barcelona.

On August 20, in Castellbisbal and Rubí, Retired Police Commissioner Juan Fortuny de Pedro murdered his ex-partnera 61-year-old woman, and her partner, Maria Ángels Pi, 66 years old. The man later committed suicide. There was no prior complaint against the man from any of the women.

Only 17% of those murdered previously reported

Sexual violence is one of the most underreported crimes. Of the women murdered in the last decade in Catalonia, only 17% had previously reported their murderer and practically none of the victims had judicial or police protection measures available.

Most crimes are committed by partners, ex-partners or people who belong to the victim’s trusted environment.. This form of sexist violence highlights the obstacles that women face in seeking justice, such as social stigma or fear of not being believed.

11 women report sexual violence every day in Catalonia

According to data from the Mossos d’Esquadra, until Last year, 4,027 women reported that they were victims of crimes against sexual freedom. They are 34% more than in 2022. It is one woman every two hours; eleven every day; 335 every month. Of all of them, up to 731 were minor girls. Last year the Mossos arrested 7,676 men for having attacked their partners, 11.3% more than in 2022.

More complaints about sexist violence within the couple

In 2023, Complaints of sexist violence within the couple increased by 10.7%going from 15,154 events to 16,789. Specifically, 17,051 women were victims of violence perpetrated by their partner, which represents an increase of 9% compared to 2022. And, specifically, complaints of sexual violence in this area increased by 33.5%.

Violence within a couple is very complicated to detect, since it may not involve or require physical violence, but rather takes the form of many other methods, such as emotional blackmail or extortion.

40% of the victims are foreigners

According to the latest report from the Observatory against Domestic and Gender Violence of the General Council of the Judiciary, 43.1% of the 24,672 victims counted in 2023 by the courts in Catalonia are foreigners. In 2022, this percentage was 42.8%.

60 victims of gender violence per 10,000

Also according to the Observatory against Domestic and Gender Violence of the General Council of the Judiciary, in Catalonia the rate of victims of gender violence per 10,000 women has once again been 61.5well below the Spanish rate, which in 2023 was 79.4.

Two out of ten people believe that forcing a partner to have sex is not a crime

Consent is basic when it comes to maintaining a sexual relationship, also within a couple. It seems logical, but the truth is that two out of ten people believe that the couple cannot be “forced to have unwanted sexual relations” but that it should not be punished by law, according to survey data from the Center for Sociological Research (CIS). ). The report also reveals that three out of ten surveyed defend that kissing a woman against her will should not be punished. And half of the population believes that making non-consensual sexual comments to a woman should not be a crime.

Vicarious violence: ten children murdered since 2013

The vicarious violencewhich involves the use of sons or daughters by the aggressor to harm mothers, is another form of violence against women. According to Save the Children, 60 children have been murdered in Spain since 2013 Because of this scourge, ten of them in Catalonia. This year five have been murdered.

At the beginning of last April, a 40-year-old man killed his five-year-old son in Bellcaire d’Empodrà, in Girona. He also stabbed his partner and the child’s mother, Astrid, 29, twenty times all over her body, and broke several bones in her face.

7,676 arrests related to sexist violence

The Mossos d’Esquadra carried out 7,676 arrests related to sexist violence in the area of ​​couples in 2024, which represents an increase of 11.3% compared to 2022 (6,897). In total, 32 minor arrests were made, three less than in 2022. Senior detainees reached 7,644, an increase of 11.4% compared to 2022 (6,862).

The Clinic treats more women for sexual violence than in 2023

Until October 31, the Hospital Clínic, a reference center for sexual violence in Barcelona, ​​has treated 624 people for sexual violence this yearwhile last year, in the same period, there were 587. The majority (88%) are women. 40% of attacks have been committed on girls under 25 years of age and these young women are the ones with the greatest intention to report. 10.5% of the attacks were committed in groups.