The capital hosts the Andalusian Network Meeting of Women's Associations against Male Violence, which will address consent, the business of digital sex, and the reactivation of the associative movement. The president of Women Taking a Stand denounces a lack of resources and the rise of denialist discourses.
The city of Málaga hosts the Andalusian Network Meeting of Women's Associations against Male Violence, an event that will bring together groups from across the community to discuss issues such as consent, the business of digital sex, and the reactivation of the associative movement as a refuge against various forms of violence towards women. This was reported by Diario Sur, which includes statements from the president of the Women Taking a Stand Association and vice president of the Zero Violence Platform, Andrea Barbotta.
Barbotta, a key figure in Andalusian associations since 1988, warns that the province is experiencing an unprecedented year in terms of male violence crimes, surpassing previous records. "Male violence is absolutely transversal to social, economic, and cultural aspects," she points out, emphasising that the last woman murdered was not in the VioGén system and lived in a socioeconomically well-off neighbourhood.
"It used to be frowned upon to be a misogynist or for someone to exhibit misogynistic behaviour; now it is openly flaunted on social media"
The association leader attributes this regression to several factors: the rise of the far right, the proliferation on platforms like YouTube or TikTok of men inciting violence against women, and the progressive lack of education in schools. In her opinion, there is an evident problem with resources. As an example, she states that there are 650 women under protection in Málaga city due to various levels of danger, attended to by barely a dozen agents.
Barbotta also questions why the money from the State Pact, renewed this year with more funds, is not being used to increase police forces or to provide proper training in the judicial sphere or within the Security Forces. Furthermore, she criticises that education on equality is not being effectively taught in classrooms despite being included in the curricula.
Regarding the discourses that deny gender violence, she warns that they represent an attempt to cover up structural violence. She recalls that we have already seen in other regions how it stops being called "gender violence" to be referred to as "intrafamily violence" or "domestic violence," and denounces that the Popular Party has ceded justice powers to sectors that deny this reality in order to form a government in some communities, including Andalusia.
As for the demand to report, Barbotta urges caution: "Asking someone to report without guarantees is dangerous." She believes it is essential to ensure that the victim has a network of family and friends for support, adequate conditions, and a specialised lawyer. She laments that women are always put in doubt, unlike other crimes such as handbag theft.
The meeting will also address the increase in sexual crimes over the last decade, a phenomenon that associations directly link to the Internet and social media. The event takes place in the capital of Málaga and will gather groups from all over Andalusia to coordinate strategies and demand resources.
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