Tenerife Council Expands Equality Initiatives and Youth Violence Prevention Programs
The Tenerife Island Council is expanding its long-term equality strategy, focusing on youth violence prevention, inclusive social support, and promoting shared domestic responsibility to address persistent gender disparities.
The Tenerife Island Council has strengthened its approach to equality by focusing on cooperation across different government levels. According to Patricia León Pérez, the Island Director of Equality and Diversity, this strategy reached over 450,000 people last year. By using the "Tenerife Violeta" network, the council has moved away from one-off projects, instead creating a long-term, measurable plan that is now considered a national model.
The Council is particularly concerned about a decline in support for gender equality among young people. To address this, they have launched a new violence prevention plan for adolescents and youth, which encourages critical thinking. A key part of this is the "Enrédate sin Machismo" (Get Involved Without Sexism) program, which will expand to sixteen schools this year, reaching over 1,000 students.
León Pérez emphasizes that equality policies must be inclusive, supporting groups such as women with disabilities and those facing economic hardship. The Council has also introduced new safety protocols for nightlife venues to prevent sexual assault, providing training for staff and working closely with local municipalities.
A major focus for the Council is encouraging shared responsibility at home. Currently, women take 80.52% of childcare leave, a statistic that highlights a significant barrier to women’s career growth and long-term financial security. To help balance work and family life, the Council is offering daycare vouchers and hosting public events like the "Isla Violeta Festival" to spark conversations about sharing domestic duties and reducing the "mental load" often carried by women.
Looking ahead, the Council faces the challenge of promoting these policies in a digital landscape that can be hostile toward equality initiatives. Despite this, the administration remains committed to working with local councils and community organizations to ensure that gender equality remains a core priority in all areas of local government.