[Gender based violence in the Spanish Parliamentary Agenda (1979-2004)]

To systematically examine the characteristics of the processes of formulating and taking decisions on gender-based violence in the Spanish Parliament.

A search was performed for all parliamentary initiatives on gender-based violence in the Spanish parliament (1979-2004) and their qualitative content was analyzed. The ratio between initiatives on gender-based violence and those on other issues was calculated by years and legislatures. The probability of presenting initiatives on gender-based violence was analyzed by sex and political group (government vs. opposition) (odds ratio, 95% CI and statistical significance using the Mantel-Haenszel method).

In the 26 years studied, there were 322,187 initiatives, of which 569 concerned gender-based violence. Initiatives on this issue increased in 1998 (4.12 per 1,000), 2001 (4.49 per 1,000) and 2004 (9.19 per 1,000). Sixty-seven percent were questions to the government. The majority of the initiatives were registered without agreement or decision (81%). Men had a higher probability of asking questions (OR = 17.08; 95%CI, 5.91-55.62), but women instigated 60% of the initiatives. Parliamentary groups in government showed a higher probability of asking questions (OR = 2.63; 95%CI, 1.32-5.31), but 88% of the initiatives were promoted by the opposition.

The process of policy construction has been started in Spain, which could lead to the development of true policies on gender-based violence in the future. Parliamentary activity on this issue should be maintained in the long-term, as the problem shows no sign of abating.