Psychosocial intervention with survivors of gender-based violence: the legal framework and its limitations in professional practice

Abstract

Spain has a solid and advanced regulatory framework on gender violence since the approval of Ley Orgánica 1/2004 de medidas de protección integral contra la violencia de género. However, its practical implementation still presents significant challenges. In particular, there are some gaps and inconsistencies in psychosocial intervention and judicial proceedings that make it difficult to effectively achieve the objectives of the law.

Based on this observation, we explore here the tensions that exist between the state regulatory framework and professional practice in the region of Navarre. To this end, we held two discussion groups with professionals from a variety of backgrounds, ensuring that all the specialized resources in the region aimed at victims of gender-based violence were represented.

First, we identified structural deficiencies in resources and services (long waiting lists, unjustifiable limitations on the timing and content of psychological interventions, etc.) that undermine the right to comprehensive care and recovery established by law. We also found significant deficiencies in the training of professionals, especially in the legal field and in non-specialized services. Furthermore, we observed that the intervention system still does not fully incorporate children and continues to ignore them. Finally, we found that not only is the comprehensive recovery of women and their children the central objective of the law, not guaranteed, but that new forms of victimization are often generated.