On the International Day Against Gender Violence, thousands took to the streets in dozens of Spanish cities to protest denialism and demand more protection for victims. The demonstrations highlighted divisions in the feminist movement, with separate marches in places like Madrid and Barcelona. They remembered the 38 women killed this year by their partners or ex-partners, with a possible 39th victim pending confirmation.
Just 72 hours ago, a man killed his 60-year-old ex-partner in Rincón de la Victoria, Málaga, in what could be the 39th gender violence victim this year and the 1,334th since 2003. Against these assaults and rising denialism, thousands of women and men marched on November 25 in cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, and Valencia.
In Madrid, the Government Delegation estimated 5,000 participants across two separate demonstrations, a split that emerged during the 8M of 2022 over disagreements on the trans law, prostitution, and the Sexual Freedom Law. The march by Foro 25N and Madrid's Feminist Movement, with about 2,000 people and critical of the trans law, initially featured Equality Minister Ana Redondo. She then joined the Comisión 8M event with 3,000 attendees supporting trans women's inclusion; Ione Belarra of Podemos was there. Redondo called for consensus and warned the PP: “Either it is with the State Pact or with Vox's denialism”.
In Barcelona, 1,400 demonstrators according to the Urban Guard chanted against macho, racist, and colonial violence. An 18-year-old student, Alba N., expressed fear of a past aggressor: “I want to believe things can change”. In Sevilla, two marches of 300 and 600 people denounced delays in breast cancer screenings as institutional violence, with the Amama association present.
In San Sebastián, 500 people highlighted rising sexual assaults among youth. Mónica Zuñiga from the Gipuzkoa Feminist Association said: “We are in a setback”. In Las Palmas, Victoria Rosell stressed protesting denialism as “an accomplice to silence”. In Valencia, 2,000 participants, led by survivors, demanded an end to impunity. Similar divisions occurred in Galicia and Murcia, where thousands called for more resources and rejected far-right denialism.
In Valladolid, relatives of Teresa Rodríguez, killed in 2022, recalled the social issue. Sara Polanco urged awareness: “This really happens”. The protests demanded improvements in prevention, protection, and victim support, including for migrants and domestic workers.