The Ministry of Equality warns that transferring victim assessment to Vox could jeopardize state funding. The move has sparked political backlash and raised concerns about support for gender violence victims in Andalusia.
The Ministry of Equality has formally requested an urgent meeting with Andalusian president Juan Manuel Moreno after the regional government handed control of forensic assessment services for victims of gender violence to Vox. The decision, which follows the latest coalition agreement in Andalusia, places the far-right party in charge of the Consejería de Turismo, Justicia, Desregulación y Administración Local, including the units responsible for evaluating risk and harm to victims.
Equality Minister Ana Redondo has warned Moreno that this transfer could threaten the allocation of funds tied to the national Pacto de Estado against gender violence. In a letter sent to Moreno, Redondo expressed deep concern, arguing that entrusting these services to a party that denies the existence of gender violence undermines institutional commitment and could weaken protections for women and children. The letter was also addressed to María Dolores López, the regional minister for Social Services, Families and Equality, and Rosalía de los Ángeles Espinosa, director of the Instituto Andaluz de la Mujer.
Redondo's intervention comes amid strong criticism from the entire Andalusian opposition, which has called for the government to reconsider. The minister emphasized that the move risks sending a message of indifference to victims and could compromise the proper use of state funds intended to guarantee prevention, comprehensive care, and effective protection for women and their children. According to the letter, the decision has significant institutional and political implications, challenging years of consensus in Andalusia on combating gender violence.
Andalusia has recorded the highest number of gender violence murders in Spain since 2003, with 290 women killed by partners or ex-partners. In 2025, 15 women lost their lives, and nine more have been killed in the first seven months of 2026. The Unidades de Valoración Forense Integral, established in 2004 under the national law against gender violence, are multidisciplinary teams of forensic doctors, psychologists, and social workers. They play a crucial role in assessing risk, harm, and the consequences for victims, and are managed by the regional Institutes of Legal and Forensic Medicine.
Despite repeated requests for comment, neither the Andalusian government nor Vox have responded to questions about the minister's letter. Redondo has urged Moreno to restore institutional coherence and warned that Andalusian women must not become "second-class victims" or see their rights and protections diminished, especially given the region's alarming statistics.
The Partido Popular's Elías Bendodo, responsible for regional and municipal policy, described the central government's criticism as "paradoxical," noting that the Justice portfolio, now under Vox, is responsible for the forensic units. Meanwhile, the PSOE has demanded that Vox clarify in the Andalusian parliament what resources it will allocate to victim protection, aiming to prevent any rollback or reduction in public support for women affected by gender violence.
As noted by RUSSPAIN, the forensic assessment units not only evaluate women but also children involved in cases of violence, as well as other issues in civil proceedings such as custody and visitation rights during divorces or separations, regardless of whether violence is present. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions over the management of gender violence policies in Spain's largest region, where the stakes remain high for victims and their families.
For context, the Pacto de Estado against gender violence is a nationwide agreement that channels significant funding to Spain's autonomous communities to support prevention, protection, and assistance measures. Any perceived weakening of these commitments can have direct consequences for the availability of resources and the effectiveness of support systems for victims. The current dispute in Andalusia may set a precedent for other regions, making the outcome particularly significant for the future of gender violence policy in Spain.
