On 25N, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the focus should be on the victims. But the political noise is sometimes louder. “Politicians have 365 days to speak, women They have this day to give their testimonies“, said Almeida during the institutional event organized by the municipality, where two survivors of sexual violence treated by municipal services spoke. Politicians from all municipal groups, except Vox, attended this meeting held at CentroCentro, preceded by a minute of silence for the murdered women. Although there were several representatives of Más Madrid, Rita Maestre, leader of the opposition, remained at the demonstration of municipal and community network workers against gender violence that took place in front of the Cibeles Palace.
These political differences between the groups that make up the municipal plenary session were not only manifested in the absence (for another year) of a common institutional declaration. This Tuesday, in plenary, they will debate and vote until three proposals different linked to 25N. The three will be debated as a single point, with independent votes for each proposal.
The PP, with the absolute majority in the chamber, will ask the City Council to invite the central government to transpose a European directive aimed at guaranteeing access to justice for victims, improving coordination between the different institutions involved in violence gender and to classify new crimes such as cyberbullying.
On the other hand, the PSOE will ask municipal political groups to sign a Social Pact against Gender Violence, “which each year has a budgetary allocation and the necessary instruments for Madrid to be a city without gender violence.” In the same spirit, Más Madrid will ask the Municipal Network against Gender Violence of the City Hall to adopt measures to improve and strengthen care (especially in the case of 24-hour service), as well as the promotion of socio-economic autonomy of female victims and the construction of three new centers.
Workers’ strike
While the event took place inside the Cibeles Palace, surrounding a hundred women They demanded a salary increase, greater job stability and an increase in the number of professionals to provide the service. Among the proclamations that could be heard were criticism of Madrid Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida (“Almeida, come down, we will invite you to a coffee”) and messages of support for the victims (“Woman , if you don’t fight, no one will help you.” listen”).
The spokesperson for the platform, Elena Fernández, has denounced since the gathering that the staff is “overloaded”, as reported by Europa Press. “They are saturated, we do not have enough resources or professionals to be able to serve women properly and with the quality they deserve and what we are doing is taking to the streets,” he said. critical. The strike supported by the workers will last until 11:59 p.m. this Monday.
The workers of the Network to Combat Gender Violence of the Town Hall work for it through private companies which have won the corresponding public competitions, so that their salaries are linked to the collective agreement of the sector, explain sources from the Town Hall . The demonstrators They demand the municipalization of their service have more resources, which, at the moment, is not considered by the local government.
Sources from the field of social policies, family and equality explain that they will continue to strengthen the municipal network to offer “agile and quality” care to all the victims. Spending on prevention and care against gender-based violence has doubled over the last five years, going from 7 million in 2018, when Almeida had not yet reached City Hall, to 13.8 million invested in 2023. In addition, the 2025 budgets plan to devote 16 million euros to fight against this scourge, i.e. 12% more than in 2024. “No women remained without the attention of the town hall’s resources in emergency situations”, they add. During this 24-hour strike, in fact, they agreed with the workers on services minimum.
Since 2019, they continue, they joined 71 new professionals to the Network (four serving 24 hours a day and two at the Concepción Arenal center, for attention to victims of trafficking) and in 2025 the incorporation of 13 additional professionals is planned.
