Andalucia proposes state pact against violence

SUSANA DIAZ, head of the Andalucian government, has announced a list of proposals of ways to combat domestic violence, including removing abuser’s rights to visit their children.

Diaz presented the proposal document at a meeting of the Andalucian Women’s Participation Board, which represents 2,000 entities and has contributed to the project, on Wednesday (July 27) and announced her intention to recommend a nationwide state pact to include the measures.

“We need a national agreement from all political bodies and all representatives to allow the country to take a united stance,” Diaz said, after demanding that domestic violence be considered as a form of terrorism and sufficient funds be provided to prevent it and inform and assist victims all over Spain.

So far this year 26 women and one baby have lost their lives through domestic violence, far more than through terrorist acts, which shows how important her proposed pact is, Diaz stressed.

“We have become far too used to standing outside Town Halls in silence every time a woman is murdered. It’s time to stop this spiral of habit and rebel collectively, as a society, to say that many more things can be done and the authorities can provide more resources, coordinate better and make better use of the resources they have to fight violence,” the Andalucian president declared.

Another measure Diaz has proposed is that anyone found guilty of domestic or gender violence be banned for life from holding any type of public office, or position in which they would represent the people at any level.