Gender Violence Surge Highlighted in Spain and Argentina

Forensic doctor Miguel Lorente warned that gender‑based violence remains a grave, under‑recognised problem in Spain, where an average of 58 women are killed each year – about 20 % of all homicides. He argued that legal measures alone are insufficient and called for a broader social shift to stop justifications and victim‑blaming, noting the role of social media in normalising aggression.

In Argentina, officials reported 260 femicides in 2025, with 83‑90 % committed by intimate partners or close acquaintances. The country also faces rising interpersonal violence, including thousands of suicides, and criticism of weakened institutional protection for victims. Critics point to budget cuts, punitive laws against false sexual‑crime reports, and inadequate police and judicial responses, urging stronger community‑based support systems.

Both experts stressed that combating gender violence requires sustained societal change, better funding for support services, and more effective legal and institutional frameworks.