Comprehensive law against gender violencegender violence Violence a woman suffers from a current or former partner because she is a woman.: rights, protection and courts

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The law fights violence against women by current or former partners, even without living together. It covers physical and psychological violence, sexual freedom assaults, threats, coercion and arbitrary deprivation of liberty.
2. The education system must teach equality between men and women and peaceful conflict resolution. Secondary education includes equality and the fight against gender violence as course content, and school councils add a member to promote equality measures.
3. Advertising that shows women in a degrading or discriminatory way is considered illegal. Several institutions and associations can ask the courts to stop or correct that advertising.
4. Victims have the right to information, to permanent and urgent social services, and to free legal aid if they lack resources. These rights are guaranteed to all women regardless of their origin or circumstances.
5. Working victims of gender violence can reduce or reorganize their working hours, change workplaces, suspend their contract with job protection, or end it. Work absences caused by the violence count as justified, and employers who hire replacement workers get a 100 % rebate on Social Security contributions.
6. Victims with very low income can receive a one-time payment equal to six months of unemployment benefits, which can reach 24 months depending on family responsibilities or disability. They are also a priority group for access to subsidized housing and public senior residences.
7. The Criminal Code is toughened: injuries, mistreatment, minor threats and minor coercion against a wife or partner, even without living together, are punished with prison sentences and loss of the right to own weapons.
8. The Juzgados de Violencia sobre la Mujer (Courts on Violence against Women) are created. They handle criminal cases and can also hear related civil cases (divorce, custody, child support). The judge can order the aggressor to leave the home, stay away, stop all contact and visits, and hand over weapons.

Who it affects

• Women victims of gender violence: They get rights to information, social assistance, a free lawyer, financial aid, and labor and judicial protection.
• Victims who are employees or civil servants: They can reduce their hours, change workplaces, suspend their contract or justify absences.
• Children of victims: They are entitled to comprehensive social assistance and immediate school enrollment if the family moves.
• Aggressors: They face prison, restraining orders, removal from the home, weapon bans and loss of pensions.
• Public administrations and the education and health systems: They must train professionals, run awareness campaigns, create protocols and coordinate to prevent and detect violence.

Words worth knowing

Orden de protección

A court order that bundles protective measures for the victim, such as keeping the aggressor away.

Medida cautelar

A temporary measure the judge adopts while the case is ongoing to protect the victim or secure the outcome.

Patria potestad

The set of rights and duties parents have over their minor children.

Asistencia jurídica gratuita

The right to a State-paid lawyer and court clerk when you cannot afford one.

Quebrantamiento de condena

The crime of breaking a penalty or measure imposed by the judge, such as a restraining order.

gender violence

Violence a woman suffers from a current or former partner because she is a woman.

It summarizes the law as published in the BOE. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries