Equality department is organizing educational, recreational and cultural activities to raise awareness against gender-based violence

Benidorm City Council's Department of Equality has once again prepared a comprehensive program of activities to raise awareness against gender-based violence in commemoration of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, which is observed worldwide on November 25. The councillor for the department, Ángela Zaragozí, announced today the main events included in this program, which will run from November 17 to 30 and will encompass various disciplines, to reach all audiences.

The head of the Department of Equality explained that this year "we wanted to create a different program for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, with diverse activities," although she clarified that, "obviously, November 25 is the key day, the fundamental day." For that day, the official photo will be taken in the Plaza de Sus Majestades los Reyes de España (Square of Their Majesties the Kings of Spain), at 10:00 a.m., where the city will reaffirm, once again, its rejection of gender violence.

Zaragozí pointed out that, “in addition, we have implemented a series of events that we have also spread throughout all the city's community centres so that they reach everyone and so that people don't have to travel; instead, we will bring the activities to their neighbourhoods.”

The program will begin on Monday, November 17, at 11:00 a.m., with the opening of the Poster Exhibition against Gender Violence, in which, as every year, students from IES Pere Maria Orts i Bosch are collaborating. It will be located in the City Hall's Espai d’Art (Art Space) and can be visited until November 30.

Next, from November 18th to 30th, the interactive project ‘What do you know about…? Uncovering truths about gender violence will take place at the La Torreta and José Llorca Linares community centres and the Social Mediation Centre. The councilwoman explained that the project's objective is “to make information more accessible and debunk clichés and many beliefs that people have about gender violence, through interactive panels where users will find seemingly simple questions about gender violence, each with the correct answer in terms of statistics and the law. This will allow us to see if our beliefs about gender violence are actually true or simply myths and clichés passed down orally, and about which we were mistaken.”

On Friday, November 21st, from 4:00 PM to 9:00 PM at the Cultural Centre, an escape room will be held. This free activity, which is very popular every year, is being offered again this year and is titled "Mystery Box on Microaggressions." This time, it won't be a typical escape room, but rather several game tables in an escape room format, all revolving around microaggressions, which we believe participants will enjoy. There will be different groups of up to six people, and all those interested must register. A waiting list will be opened once the spaces are filled.

On Saturday, the 22nd, at 7:00 PM, the dance performance "Atávicas" will take place in the Auditorium of the Cultural Centre. This performance will make a stop in Benidorm after touring many parts of Spain and receiving various awards. Those interested can purchase their tickets now at www.vivatiquet.es. Tickets are available for €8 or in person at the Benidorm City Council's Department of Culture.

On Monday, the 24th, at 6:00 PM, the City Hall's Assembly Hall will host a screening of the documentary "Desnudas" (Naked) by Esmeralda Marugán, followed by a discussion with the women featured in the film. The councilwoman noted that the documentary "is very interesting because it tells the stories of several women of different ages and social backgrounds who have experienced gender-based violence. They recount how they experienced it before and how they are coping now, and I believe that having them share their experiences firsthand will be a great opportunity to delve deeper and raise awareness about this issue."

Finally, between November 26th and 28th, from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, La Torreta and Jelena community centres, as well as Els Tolls Mediation Centre, will host workshops on masculinities and caregiving. Dependents.

Ángela Zaragozí emphasised that “these are very diverse activities aimed at different audiences, with the intention of encouraging the participation of as many people as possible,” and invited the public to “come and participate to learn more about how to identify gender-based violence and how to act against these types of violence.”