Spain’s interior minister decries ‘dreadful’ spike in murders of women

Spain's interior minister has denounced a "dreadful" surge in gender violence after nine women were killed in December across the European country.

Fernando Grande-Marlaska said during a press briefing on Thursday that the "series of dreadful crimes we have suffered this month" was "deeply frustrating" and should serve as a "wake-up call."

He urged people to report any suspected incidents of gender violence. Police across the country have been ordered to "step up" vigilance, the minister said.

"This is not a private issue as it was understood in the past," he said. "We cannot go back to that idea, it is a social tragedy that we have to face as a society."

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez also said in a tweet that Spain was "suffering a terrible rebound in cases of gender violence" this month. "Ending gender violence involves all of us. It is essential to act together, as a society, to stop this scourge."

In the most recent incident of violence, a 32-year-old pregnant woman was stabbed to death by her former partner, in front of their two teenage children in the central town of Escalona on Wednesday. She had been due within days. Her death brings to 48 the number of women killed due to gender violence this year.

The deadliest year on record for gender violence in Spain was 2008 with 76 deaths.

The total number of such killings now stands at 1,181 since the government started keeping a tally in 2003.

Domestic violence against women surges in UK after football games: Study

The study was conducted at the University of Lancaster.

France is another European country with the highest number of femicides. Hundreds of women have been killed by current or former partners in France in recent years, sparking national outrage. It is estimated that a woman is killed by her partner or former partner every three days.

Some European countries have been recorded as worst women rights violators.

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