The Treatment of Gender Violence in the Spanish Administration of Justice: Implementation and Effectiveness of the Organic Act 1/2004, on Integral Protection Measures Against Gender Violence

Abstract

The Spanish Organic Act 1/2004, of 28 December, on Integral Protection Measures Against Gender Violence, is, without doubt, the reform that has had the greatest impact in the fight the violence exercised against women in Spain. This Act concluded the reforms that were started in Spain in 1999, consolidated the path set out by the Act 27/2003, of 31 July, on the Regulatory Order of Protection for Victims of Domestic Violence, and shifted the focus of legal intervention from family violence to gender-based violence. By looking back over the 12 years since the Spanish Organic Act 1/2004 came into effect, we can assess the practical legal and institutional changes to intervention mechanisms designed to eradicate and prevent gender-based violence in Spain. In more concrete terms, the effectiveness of the main reforms introduced shall be evaluated, analysing the implementation of the Act's key aspects into the Spanish Administration of Justice.