Canary Islands Prepare for Nov 25 Anti-Violence Protests
Across the Canary Islands, people will gather for demonstrations and rallies on November 25th to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, with unions and feminist groups highlighting alarming statistics and demanding an end to gender-based violence.
The province of Santa Cruz de Tenerife is getting ready for another important November 25th. Across all the islands, people will gather for demonstrations and rallies to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The Comisiones Obreras (CCOO) trade union, working with various feminist groups, has already shared details of the planned events.
Once again, on November 25th, people across the Canary Islands will take to the streets to demand an end to gender-based violence. CCOO describes this violence as "the most extreme and cruel sign of inequality between women and men," noting that the numbers are still alarmingly high both in the islands and nationwide.
CCOO highlights that so far in 2025, 36 women in Spain have been killed by their partners or ex-partners, with two of these deaths occurring in the Canary Islands. Since 2010, 52 women have died in the Canary Islands due to gender violence. Nationwide, over 1,300 women have been murdered since 2003. Because of this, the union stresses how important these days are to ensure no woman who has been murdered is ever forgotten.
Data collected by CCOO shows that in 2024, the Canary Islands saw 11,503 complaints of gender violence, affecting a total of 1,787 victims. Worryingly, the number of child victims has jumped by 200%, from 8 cases to 24 in just one year. The most recent figures, from the second quarter of 2025, indicate a small 2.7% rise in complaints compared to the same time last year. CCOO believes this trend needs to be carefully examined.
The November 25th marches in the main cities of the Canary Islands aim to speak out against this ongoing violence, which the union says "unacceptably undermines equality and democracy."
In the capital, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, the rally will start at 7:00 PM in Plaza Weyler. This is the starting point for the event organized by CCOO, the Forum against Gender Violence of Tenerife, and the Feminist Network of Gran Canaria. The march will then move along Méndez Núñez, El Pilar, Villalba Hervás, and San Francisco streets, finishing in Plaza de La Candelaria. Demonstrators will use the slogan: 'For those who were, for those who are, for those who will come. We will not be silent, they will not silence us.'
On La Gomera, the island council (Cabildo), local town halls, and feminist groups have planned several activities starting today, Monday. The main events will take place tomorrow afternoon, including a batucada (percussion parade) at 5:30 PM in Plaza San Pedro y Vueltas, Valle Gran Rey. The Valle Gran Rey Musical Association and the Arena y Jable Musical Association will take part. Later, at 7:00 PM, the Mujeres Gara Association will hold an event to honor victims in Plaza de Las Américas, San Sebastián.
In Los Llanos de Aridane, CCOO has announced a gathering in Plaza Clara Campoamor (also known as La Carilla).
The El Hierro island council (Cabildo) will mark November 25th with various cultural and sports activities. Working with the Canarian Institute for Equality (ICI), they will stage the play '500 pasos' tomorrow, Tuesday, November 25th, at 8:00 PM at the Asabanos Cultural Center in Villa de Valverde. Entry is free until the venue is full. Also on Tuesday, November 25th, the Princesa Teseida Athletics Club will host a charity race against gender violence. The race will start at 5:00 PM from the Government Delegation in Villa de Valverde. Finally, the Cabildo's Emergency Device for Assaulted Women (DEMA) will run a workshop for its users, featuring talks to discuss social issues.