Criticizing the reactive approach to gender violence in Spain

While the government launches summer campaigns each year, the underlying structural problems remain untouched. July’s death toll should not be a surprise; it is the result of a system that reacts rather than prevents. Critics point out that restraining orders are often not monitored properly, and many victims do not report abuse due to fear or lack of trust in the justice system. The focus on seasonal measures distracts from long-term failings: insufficient funding for shelters, slow court processes, and a lack of comprehensive education on healthy relationships from a young age. Without tackling these deeper issues, Spain will continue to see the same tragic peaks every summer. The public deserves a strategy that reduces violence year-round, not just when the numbers make headlines.