Almost 40% of the sexist murders committed this year occurred during or shortly after the couple's breakup. Specifically, 20 of the 51 committed so far this year (39.2%). A percentage only surpassed in 2021, when 47% of the murders were committed during the separation process. These data show that separation or divorce represents one of the most risky moments for women and also for their children. Clear risk of being murdered.
This is the case of Caterina, 64 years old, shot to death by her partner in La Línea de la Concepción (Cádiz) last January. The marriage was in the process of separating. Or María, murdered by her husband in her home in Móstoles and who has left an 11-year-old child orphaned. Or Lourdes, 50 years old, who was murdered by her partner until a few days before. The man had met her in an attempt to get her relationship back on track and, when she refused, he hit her in the head with a sawed-off shotgun. Or Ilham Najah, 28 years old, or Raquel Lorente Pardo, 58 years old, murdered by her partner when she went to collect her belongings after separating from her...
Given these facts, the Ministry of Equality and the autonomous communities have agreed to promote training courses on gender perspective and detection of gender violence to the legal practice shifts in matters of family law (separations, divorces...) and to the court personnel, especially family. “The majority of victims try to escape the violence through separation, and not by filing a complaint,” they point out from the ministry directed by Irene Montero. It is necessary, they say, for judicial professionals to be alert to any risk of sexist violence.
Equality and communities have also agreed that the Police accompany the women who come to collect their belongings after the separation because it is “a particularly delicate moment,” indicates the Secretary of State for Equality, Ángela Rodríguez Rodríguez. Even if there is no complaint.
In the opinion of this department, proactive detection is failing, understanding as such that all public services, including the judicial, but also educational, health, socio-health and emergency services, among others, communicate any case in which violence against women is detected.
“It cannot be understood that a woman murdered by her partner has been going to the mental services of a health center for years and her status as a victim has not been detected,” says Rodríguez.
