Tenerife Launches Initiatives to Combat Youth Gender Violence

Tenerife is taking significant steps to address youth gender violence as part of its observance of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25.

Targeting Youth for Early Prevention

The Cabildo of Tenerife, through its Insular Directorate of Equality and Diversity, has introduced a comprehensive program aimed at younger demographics, including preadolescents, adolescents, and young adults. This initiative emphasizes early prevention of gender violence through three primary actions: the II Congress on Gender Violence Prevention, the campaign titled ‘For a Future Free of Gender Violence’, and the family-oriented activity ‘What Are We Playing?’, which will occur during La Noche en Blanco in La Laguna, according to Patricia León, the insular director.

Strategic Framework for Gender Violence Prevention

These efforts are part of the Strategic Plan for the Prevention of Gender Violence 2024-2029, which has been approved by the Cabildo. The plan aims to foster positive relationships, enhance affective and sexual education, promote equality, and enable early identification of misogynistic violence.

Rosa Dávila, President of the Cabildo, stated that these initiatives reflect the institution’s commitment to preventing gender violence from a young age. The program seeks to educate and raise awareness among citizens, involving families, professionals, and social agents in the process.

Details of the II Congress on Gender Violence Prevention

Scheduled for November 26 and 27, the II Congress on Gender Violence Prevention will take place at the Guajara Campus of the University of La Laguna. This event is designed as a platform for training, reflection, and collaboration among professionals from various sectors, including education, youth services, culture, and sports.

The Congress aims to align strategies for preventing gender violence among youth, fostering cooperation between municipalities, educational institutions, and organizations that work directly with young people. Key topics will include socio-educational interventions, affective and sexual education, prevention in public spaces, egalitarian masculinities, the influence of social networks, and support for underage victims.

The agenda features presentations, panel discussions, and practical experiences. On the first day, sessions will focus on innovative approaches to sexual education and online prevention of misogynistic violence, led by specialists in encounter therapy and cyber-equality. The second day will address caring masculinities, the creation of safe public spaces, and interventions involving youth from the judicial system.

Encouraging Dialogue and Reflection

The Congress aims to create a forum for dialogue among various groups engaging with the youth of Tenerife. Patricia León emphasized the importance of empowering young people to become advocates for healthy, violence-free relationships while integrating essential concepts of gender equality into their daily lives.

Launching the 25N Campaign

Alongside the Congress, the Cabildo has initiated a campaign targeting adolescents aged 14 to 18, titled “For a Future Free of Gender Violence.” This campaign encourages young people to connect, communicate, and support one another. It is informed by findings from the Strategic Plan’s diagnosis and recent studies on youth and gender violence.

Recent data presented by the President of the Cabildo reveals alarming statistics: 25% of young women aged 18 to 30 report experiencing physical violence from an ex-partner, and 20% have faced sexual violence. Additionally, 27% of girls aged 14 to 16 claim to have encountered gender violence in their relationships. Notably, 94% of these incidents go unreported due to fear, and 64% of victims initially fail to recognize their experiences as misogynistic violence.

Research indicates ongoing challenges in understanding concepts such as “gender violence” and “equality,” with some boys feeling marginalized during discussions on these topics. Despite these challenges, young people of both genders share common concerns, including mental health, relationships mediated by technology, housing issues, and emotional well-being.

The campaign aims to foster connection, dialogue, and care among youth as fundamental elements in the fight against violence.

Key points

• Tenerife’s Cabildo has launched a program for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
• The focus is on preadolescents, adolescents, and young adults to strengthen early prevention of gender violence.
• The II Congress on Gender Violence Prevention will be held on November 26-27 at the University of La Laguna.
• Statistics indicate significant levels of gender violence among young women in Tenerife.
• The campaign “For a Future Free of Gender Violence” targets adolescents aged 14 to 18.
• The Strategic Plan for the Prevention of Gender Violence 2024-2029 aims to promote equality and positive relationships.