León cries out “we love each other alive”

The names of Lorena, Laila, Soledad, María Nieves or Estela. Some of their ages, 41 years, 56 or 33 years. The dates, January 12, February 22, May 19 or July 14. These data resonated this Monday in the Botines square in León as a souvenir at 42 murdered women for their partners or ex-partners this 2024 in Spain. They also sounded like darts for the administrations from which they ask for “commitment and responsibility” so that the laws that protect victims truly do so.

The tribute to these women took place at the end of the central act of commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in León, a demonstration in which several hundred Leonese, city associations, unions and political parties participated who took to the streets of the center of the capital to shout “not one more.” Dressed in banners and with slogans such as “let shame change sides” or “no aggression without response”, the women of León once again walked the stretch that separates the Guzmán square from Botines demanding a society free of gender violence on a day in which two more crimes were known, in Estepa (Seville) and in Orihuela (Alicante).

The Platform against Sexist Violence of León was in charge of preparing the manifesto that was read this Monday after eight in the afternoon and in which they listed their demands before the provincial, regional and national organizations to which they ask that the legislation “be applied.” Encina Gutiérrez, spokesperson for the Platform, considers that the renewal of the State Pact against Gender Violence It is good news but it requests “that the measures be mandatory, that the causes be addressed and that it have sufficient financial resources.” Three demands that the Platform considers fundamental to “undertake reparation for victims and care for women.” The Platform in León this Monday focused on “coeducation and emotional-sexual education”, which they consider “is failing”, but also wanted to focus on the judicial system after the suspension in October of the prison sentences of four businessmen who paid to have sex with minors in Murcia. “This sentence sends the message that there is impunity for the aggressors and helplessness for the victims,” ​​criticized Gutiérrez. The entity in León “understands” that women “are afraid and distrust justice.”