Estepona celebrates International Women’s Day (2024)

This March 8, the Estepona City Council will pay tribute to women with various events. The deputy mayor of the Sociocultural Area, Paula Herrera, reports on an enriching program.

Pictorial Talk ‘Women painters. Inspirational Lives

On March 21, at 7:00 p.m., at the Padre Manuel Cultural Center, the program begins with a talk on the painter Frida Kahlo, given by Professor Rocío Garín.

Official ceremony and March 8 awards

On Friday, March 8, at 12:00 noon, the official ceremony chaired by Mayor José María García Urbano will be held at Avenida Juan Carlos I, where the ‘March 8 Awards’ will be presented.

Recognizing excellence in the arts

The XXIV edition of the awards highlights the trajectory and entrepreneurial actions of women in the arts. A theatrical and musical performance will close the event.

Workshops and ongoing activities

The commemorative program includes the ‘ICT Women’ workshop for the elimination of the digital divide and the ‘Basic financial planning and education’ workshop. They will be held at the Padre Manuel Cultural Center with registration at the Municipal Delegation of Women.

Expanding the Memorial to Cancelada

The activities will also reach Cancelada with the conference ‘Origin of March 8 Day’, by Leticia Hidalgo, Agent for Equality of the Municipal Center for Women’s Information, CMIM.

A pillar for equality policies

In the context of International Women’s Day, the Women’s Delegation of the Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Estepona emerges as a fundamental pillar for the materialization of equality policies. This agency, through the Municipal Women’s Information Center, not only commemorates this crucial day, but also stands as a vital space that offers specific services, counseling, and support to women in the community. The celebration of this day thus acquires a deeper meaning by being connected with an entity committed to the promotion of equality and the eradication of gender violence in Estepona.

What is the Women’s Delegation?

The Women’s Delegation of the Excmo. Ayuntamiento de Estepona is the entity in charge of implementing equal opportunity policies between women and men. This important work is carried out through the Municipal Women’s Information Center, a specific, free, local service. Its main function is to inform and advise women, as well as to raise public awareness about equality and the fight against gender violence. The permanent services offered are as follows:

Information and Participation Department

The Municipal Women’s Information Center provides personalized attention and guidance to the women who visit it, referring them to the different departments according to their evaluation or to other instances that can resolve their situations. It also develops activities to promote the social participation of women and disseminate equality policies in the municipality. This department stands out for its work in coeducation in educational centers, raising awareness among students, teachers and families about the value of equality. It also promotes the women’s associative movement and other associations with a gender perspective. Examples of these initiatives include the “March 8” Award to recognize those who promote equality, the “Letters written by a woman” contest on Book Day, and the “November 25 No to Violence” poster contest with high school students in Estepona.

Legal Counseling

The Municipal Women’s Information Center offers legal advice on matters that have a significant impact on women’s lives, addressing family law issues such as separation, divorce, alimony, custody and guardianship, as well as criminal law issues such as abuse and sexual assault, among other violations of fundamental rights. In addition, it carries out immediate interventions in cases of Gender Violence, providing urgent protection of women’s rights and guaranteeing access to information on protection measures and rights established in Organic Law 1/2004, of December 28, 2004, on Comprehensive Protection Measures against Gender Violence.

Psychological Attention

The actions undertaken by this department are aimed at strengthening the capacity of women to deal with problems arising mainly from gender issues. The intervention is carried out at several levels:

• Individual level: Provides counseling, psychological support and psychotherapeutic treatment to women facing disorders derived from conflictive relationships, such as abuse, physical, psychological and/or sexual aggression, as well as situations of separation or divorce. The goal is for women to restore their biopsychosocial functioning.

• Group level: Monographic and psycho-educational workshops are held to reinforce personal and relational aspects worked on at the individual level, providing strategies to resolve conflicts and make decisions. This includes relaxation workshops, psychological intervention with abused women, social skills training, among others.

• Community level: Talks-colloquiums are offered to the general population and specific groups to raise awareness of the problem of gender violence. Talks are also given to raise awareness about the importance of health in order to achieve an adequate quality of life.

Comprehensive Care for Victims of Gender Violence