Evangelicals in Spain speak out against domestic violence towards females
Madrid's Annual Anti-Violence Rallies: A Yearly Call for Change
Each year, the Evangelical Council of Madrid and the Spanish Evangelical Alliance organise rallies against violence towards women. These events, held regularly, are part of their ongoing commitment to raising awareness about gender violence. The rallies often condemn violence against women and oppose gender ideology perceived as conflicting with their religious beliefs.
The rallies have garnered responses from various political parties in Spain. Progressive and left-wing parties frequently oppose the Evangelical organisations' stance, particularly their rejection of gender ideology, considering it a necessary framework for advancing women's rights and combating violence based on gender. They argue that denying gender theory undermines efforts to address the structural causes of violence against women.
Conversely, some conservative political factions sometimes support the Evangelical Council’s messages, aligning with their critique of gender ideology and endorsing more traditional views on family and gender roles.
The first rally was held on 25 November in the centre of Madrid, attended by representatives of various organising bodies and evangelical men and women. The event was hosted by the Council for Women's Affairs of the Evangelical Council of Madrid (CEM). Pablo García Yimber, a rapper, performed a song titled "Woman, you are worth much more."
The event denounced violence against women in various forms, including physical, psychological, human trafficking, and prostitution. A one-minute silence was observed for the 42 women murdered in Spain this year, represented by 42 candles held by several women from the evangelical entities.
Notable attendees at the event included Isabel Pérez Moñino and María Belén González Moreno, from Vox. Vox stated their fight for women, motherhood, and their opposition to gender ideology, which they believe discriminates against women. They also expressed their position against all violence, including violence against women, and against caricatures made of them.
The event offered support from the evangelical churches to those looking for a way out. Impact Kerygma (YWAM youth directed by Indira Sanchez) performed a depiction of emotional dependencies, toxic relationships, and their bondage. Asun Quintana, president of the Seneca Falls platform and the Women and Society Working Group of the Spanish Evangelical Alliance, made a paraphrase of a gospel scene, applying it to the current reality of violence against women.
For the eighth year in a row, evangelical women's associations in Madrid have spoken out against violence to women on the International day for the violence against women. The event on 27 November was held in a church in Madrid. The #OneMoreYearEF campaign is ongoing at Evangelical Focus. Learn more here. Ester Burgués, the CEM women's counsellor, gave a presentation at the beginning of the event.
- The Evangelical Council's annual rallies, focused on women's health-and-wellness and mental-health, frequently incorporate discussions on gender ideology, a topic that generates debates in the realm of politics and general-news.
- The ongoing #OneMoreYearEF campaign at Evangelical Focus highlights the contributions of women's evangelical associations in Madrid, who have been advocating for science-based solutions to combat violence against women for eight consecutive years.
- As part of the health-and-wellness focus, these rallies often address various forms of violence, such as physical and psychological abuse, human trafficking, and prostitution, with the aim of promoting a safer and healthier society for women.
