The protest in Malaga last year. (Marilú Báez) Around 60 crisis centres operate nationwide, offering round-the-clock support alongside helplines in more than 50 languages.
Police and judicial responses follow strict protocols. Authorities are required to act at the first sign of suspected abuse, even without a formal complaint.
Courts can issue protection orders within hours, including round-the-clock police protection.
Technology and strict enforcement
Digital coordination is central to Spain’s approach. Security agencies rely on the VioGén system, which enables rapid data sharing and risk assessment.
Electronic monitoring devices for offenders - used for more than 15 years - help enforce restraining orders in high-risk cases.
At the start of 2024, more than 4,000 such systems were active nationwide.
Spain also applies comparatively tough criminal penalties: abuse by a partner or former partner can carry a prison sentence of at least two years.
Minister Redondo says these measures have helped shift Spain "from a macho-dominated society towards a culture of equality" and moved violence against women "from the private sphere into public consciousness."
A society engaged
Today, domestic violence is widely debated in Spain - in classrooms, on television and in popular culture. Public scrutiny of institutions remains intense.
Spain is now also positioning itself at the forefront of efforts to combat digital sexualized violence.
While many countries are still debating legislation, the Spanish government has already drafted a law aimed at regulating AI-generated deepfakes.
The proposed rules would make it illegal to use a person’s image or voice without consent. For minors under 16, consent would not be recognized at all. Violations could result in prison sentences of up to two years.
The initiative follows high-profile cases such as a 2023 scandal in Almendralejo, in south-western Spain, where teenagers created and shared AI-generated nude images of classmates aged 13 and 14.
The case sparked nationwide outrage and highlighted the risks posed by rapidly evolving technologies. According to Save the Children, around one in five young people in Spain – mostly girls – have already been affected by such abuse.
Authorities are also beginning to enforce existing laws. In autumn 2025, Spain’s data protection agency became the first in Europe to fine an individual for publishing an AI-generated nude image.
At the same time, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s government has called for investigations into major tech platforms including X, Meta and TikTok over potential offences linked to AI-driven sexualized violence involving minors.
A wider European shift
Spain is not alone in moving quickly. Countries such as Denmark and France have already criminalised the creation of non-consensual deepfake pornography involving real individuals, with penalties including fines and prison sentences.
But Spain’s approach stands out for its breadth - combining legal reform, public awareness and technological tools.
For visitors, the constant media coverage may create a distorted picture. In reality, it reflects a society that has chosen to confront the issue head-on.
