On the afternoon of September 18th, the city of Burgos became the epicenter of an event of utmost importance in the fight against gender violence and equality of opportunities. The “Conference on Gender Violence and Migrant Women” brought together experts and professionals, as well as local authorities and university figures, all committed to addressing this social challenge that affects thousands of women worldwide.

The opening of this event took place at 5:00 PM and marked the beginning of a day of discussions and reflections on gender violence and its impact on migrant women.

Andrea Ballesteros Palacios, President of the Department of Social Services, Youth, and Equality of Opportunities of the City of Burgos, had the honor of welcoming the participants. Her presence at the event underscored the commitment of the local administration to promoting gender equality and combating violence.

Ileana M. Greca Dufranc, Vice-Rector for Internationalization and Cooperation at the University of Burgos, was also present at the opening. Her participation highlighted the importance of education and international cooperation in the quest for effective solutions to combat gender violence.

Additionally, Isabel Luis Rico, Dean of the Faculty of Education at the University of Burgos, emphasized the crucial role of education in the creation of egalitarian and violence-free societies.

At 5:20 PM, the “Integration in the Fight against Gender Violence and Inequality, with Special Reference to Migrant Women” toolkit, developed by Bjäland, was presented. This resource serves as an essential tool to understand and address the complex dimensions of gender violence, particularly its impact on migrant women. The presentation of this toolkit marked the beginning of the discussions that would take place during the event.

At 6:10 PM, the spotlight turned to one of the crucial topics of the day: gender violence and migrant women. The presentation was led by Valeriana Guijo Blanco, a professor at the University of Burgos, who offered an in-depth insight into this issue. The keynote speaker for the afternoon was Marcela Gracia Leiva, a representative of the Foundation for Health Education (FUNDADEPS) and a collaborator in the Culture, Emotion, and Cognition Research Group at the Faculty of Psychology at the University of the Basque Country (UPV). Her presentation shed light on the double discrimination faced by migrant women, both based on gender and their migrant status.

At 7:15 PM, inspiring examples of best practices in the fight against gender violence and the integration of migrant women were presented. Organizations such as Adoratrices Burgos, ACCEM, and Burgos Acoge shared their experiences and strategies for effectively addressing these challenges.

These examples of best practices demonstrated that collaboration between organizations, governments, and civil society is crucial to advancing towards equality and justice.

Finally, at 8:30 PM, the event came to a close. However, the spirit of commitment and determination to combat gender violence and support migrant women continued to resonate in the hearts and minds of all participants. The event was an important step in the right direction, but it also served as a reminder that there is still much work to be done.

In summary, the “Conference on Gender Violence and Migrant Women” in Burgos was a momentous event that brought together experts, leaders, and activists committed to the fight for gender equality and the eradication of violence.

The diversity of voices and perspectives presented at this event underscored the importance of approaching gender violence comprehensively and considering the experiences of migrant women.

The event made it clear that the commitment to this issue is strong, and through collaboration and education, we can progress toward a fairer and safer world for all women.