Tenerife Cabildo Gender Violence Support Marred by Political Disagreements

Political disagreements are overshadowing the support the Cabildo of Tenerife offers to victims of gender-based violence. Last Thursday, a committee meeting highlighted the divisions among local politicians on how to acknowledge women who experience abuse. This comes just before International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25th. Instead of unity, there were disputes.

The ruling party pushed through its proposal with its own votes, despite opposition from the PSOE. The PSOE had its own plan, and there were back-and-forth amendments. Beyond disagreements on how to spend 10.4 million euros from a state fund that the Canary Islands government hasn't used, the socialists accused the CC and PP parties of downplaying the far-right party Vox. Vox, surprisingly given its usual stance, abstained from voting.

The approved text states a strong commitment to condemning the violence faced by women and children in Tenerife and working towards its end. It plans to improve responses to all forms of violence, boost awareness campaigns, and focus on how different factors like gender can create inequality.

The agreement also calls on the Canary Islands government to increase funding for programs aimed at preventing and tackling gender violence on the island. It also urges them to better use the state funds allocated for this purpose.

The approved motion also asks the Ministry of Equality to oversee and improve the 'Cometa' electronic bracelet system. This device monitors aggressors under restraining orders.

The PSOE rejected the island government's proposal, arguing that the CC and PP parties cannot effectively lead efforts against gender violence while collaborating with the far-right. They pointed to pacts between CC, PP, and Vox in local municipalities and their joint approval of initiatives in the Cabildo itself.

The socialists also highlighted recent comments by PP officials that trivialized femicides and the risk of losing 10.4 million euros in state funding if the regional government doesn't speed up its spending. Because of this, the PSOE presented its own proposal, which they described as coherent, actionable, and focused on protecting women and children. The PSOE in Tenerife also supports calls from feminist groups to dismiss the Canary Islands Government counselor and the director of the Canary Islands Institute for Equality. A government representative stated, "November 25th is not a celebration: it is a tragedy."

To mark November 25th, the Department of Social Action and the Directorate of Equality are organizing a congress on preventing gender violence among young people. It will be held next week at the University of La Laguna, with 500 people already registered.

The president of the Cabildo of Tenerife emphasized the ongoing need to commemorate this day. A recent study shows that 27% of girls aged 14 to 16 have experienced gender-based violence in their relationships. Of these, 94% don't report it due to fear, and 64% didn't realize they were victims of such violence.

In Spain, 1,333 women have been murdered since 2003, with 110 in the Canary Islands. Additionally, 65 minors have died in related cases since 2013. This year, 38 women have been murdered nationwide, including two in the Canary Islands, and three minors. The Canary Islands also show high numbers of reported cases, with a 44.6% increase in complaints in the second quarter of 2025, reaching 4,001. The rate of victims per 10,000 women is 33.7, the highest in Spain. By the end of August, there were 6,734 active cases in the Canary Islands, with 63 at high or extreme risk, 69 minors at risk, and 727 cases of special relevance.

The Cabildo of Tenerife is allocating 417 million euros to social policies in 2026, a significant increase. This budget prioritizes care for dependent individuals, those with disabilities, victims of gender violence, children, the elderly, and vulnerable groups. The social action area also includes plans for new socio-health facilities, increased specialized staff, and a new care model focused on specialization and prevention. Efforts are also underway to strengthen citizen participation and volunteering in social policies.