Mariano Rajoy stresses that "a society free of violence against women is possible" and that "together we will achieve this"

Moncloa Palace, Madrid

The opening words from the President of the Government sought to remember "each and every one of the women murdered" and also the children "murdered to increase the suffering of their mothers".

After assuring those women that are still going through the "very tough reality" of abuse that "there is a way out", the President of the Government pointed out that "we have to do everything that is in our hands to help abused women in their most basic of rights" because "a society free of violence against women is possible" and "we are going to achieve this together.

Progress in fight against gender-based violence

Mariano Rajoy added that "a mature, democratic and civilised society" is one which "respects the rights of men and women, that treats both sexes equally, and that doesn't appreciate or accept any form of discrimination".

In this regard, the President of the Government also referred to "other forms of gender-based violence", such as "trafficking women and girls for the purposes of sexual exploitation" and "the violence of control exercised through the social media".

However, President of the Government Rajoy stressed that the figures show that progress is being made in the fight against gender-based violence, since there are now "fewer victims", more abuse reported and "more restraining orders", He stated that this progress has gone beyond our borders because "Spain has managed to become a benchmark at an international level in the design and implementation of public policies on gender-based violence".

State Pact to Combat Gender-based Violence

In this regard, he highlighted the recent approval of two reports in the Upper and Lower Houses of Parliament on the fight against gender-based violence, which will serve as the basis for the State Pact that will be reached in the next few weeks, because they represent "a great step forward for our society".

The President of the Government also underlined the "spirit of consensus" that is being achieved in regard to this State Pact. "This is an historic agreement that provides for more than 200 measures, with an unprecedented commitment to push them through".

Cornerstones of State Pact

On this point, the President of the Government listed the 10 cornerstones on which this State Pact is structured: breaking the silence and raising awareness; improving the institutional response; improving assistance, aid and protection for victims; stepping up assistance and protection for minors; boosting training for those professionals involved; improving statistical monitoring and research; introducing cross-cutting modules on sexual violence in the content of training in companies and public authorities; fostering a comprehensive and multi-disciplinary focus to the criminal offence of people trafficking; devoting greater financial resources to the application of policies (1 billion euros over five years), and carrying out and evaluating the policies agreed by part of a non-legislative Standing Committee in the Lower House of Parliament.

After pointing out that "fostering equality is the best way to combat conduct that amounts to sexual discrimination, President of the Government Rajoy warned that "we must be on our guard to spot any act of gender-based violence", since "each and every one of us can be instrumental in responding to this challenge".

Awards

During his speech, the President of the Government stressed that the awards handed over at Moncloa Palace to 10 individuals and institutions serve to recognise "10 actions in the fight to combat gender-based violence".

The 10 award-winners received an iron sculpture of "Menina" are

1. The Directorate General of Fine Arts and Cultural Heritage of the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport.
2. The soprano Pilar Jurado.
3. Atresmedia and Mutua Madrileña.
4. Scouts of Spain.
5. Police commissioner Jorge Zurita.
6. Leganés Sports Club.
7. The actress Miriam Díaz Aroca.
8. Alfonso Magaña.
9. Fundación Cepaim.
10. The pop group, La Oreja de Van Gogh.

Non official translation