Manifesto of the University of Zaragoza for the Elimination of Violence against Women

The University of Zaragoza is once again joining in the commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, highlighting the role of universities as active agents in the fight against all forms of this violence.

According to data from UN Women, one in eight women between the ages of 15 and 49 has been a victim of violence by her partner in the last year alone.

However, where there are solid legislative frameworks, services and systems in place, prevalence rates are 2.5 times lower. In Spain, despite the prevention systems that have been developed, 36 women have been killed by their partners or ex-partners so far this year.

In line with the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (1995) – an international benchmark in the defence of women's human rights, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year – we recognise that gender-based violence continues to be a serious obstacle to the free development and integrity of women.

Despite progress, this violence persists in many forms, often invisible, and adapts to new social and technological contexts. It is therefore necessary to adopt a comprehensive and cross-cutting approach that addresses not only the most obvious manifestations, but also those that operate in more subtle ways.

It is imperative to strengthen education on gender equality, non-discrimination in all its forms, human rights and critical thinking, and to promote the transfer of the contents of rigorous academic research carried out with a gender perspective in our universities. It is also necessary to advance in the integration of the intersectional perspective, which, according to current university regulations, is essential, together with the gender approach, to build a society and, therefore, a university community that is truly egalitarian, inclusive, diverse, safe and caring towards all people. This approach allows us to recognise the diversity of experiences and take action against the interrelated violence and discrimination suffered by women because of their skin colour, religion, origin, sexual orientation and gender expression, age, class, disability or other personal conditions or characteristics.

In Spain, we are confident that the renewal of the State Pact against Gender Violence, carried out last February, will help to strengthen institutional commitment by expanding measures for the prevention, protection, redress and recognition of different manifestations of gender-based violence not previously addressed: vicarious violence, economic violence and, of particular interest, digital violence, which broaden the scope of action to previously neglected realities.

These realities require a coordinated response in which universities play an essential role as generators of knowledge, critical awareness and commitment to citizenship. As higher education institutions, we have an ethical and social responsibility to contribute to the elimination of violence against women through training, research and institutional action.

In this context, Spanish universities have equality units and specific protocols for the prevention of and action against violence against women, and we develop training, awareness-raising and research programmes in this area. Through these structures, we not only offer support and accompaniment to victims, but also work to foster an institutional culture of respect, equity and shared responsibility, actively contributing to social change through knowledge and education.

For all these reasons, we are called upon to continue promoting policies of equality and prevention of gender-based violence, and on a day like today we proclaim our desire to be spaces of freedom and respect, reaffirming our commitment to building a future free of violence against women.

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