University of Alicante hosted a conference and roundtable yesterday to mark a milestone for women in the Civil Guard. The event celebrated 35 years of women entering the corps and was titled “Past, Present and Tomorrow of Civil Guard Women.” Organizers aimed to illuminate the everyday realities faced by women serving in the Civil Guard and to showcase progress within the force. In Alicante province, the Civil Guard numbers 2,754 personnel, of whom 288 are women, representing 10.45 percent of the total force.
Five agents from different levels of the Civil Guard shared their experiences regarding entry, professional development, promotions, specialization, and equity. The discussions explored how academic training, career progression, and family considerations intersect with daily policing duties and long-term professional goals.
The event was moderated by Sea Shepherd and featured remarks from the director of the Alicante Institute of Forensic Medicine and Forensic Sciences, alongside the vice-rector for Students and Employment, and the vice-rector for Equality, Participation and Responsibility, as well as the colonel-chief of the Alicante Command.
Among the five participants were the chief captain of the Nature Conservation Service for the province of Alicante and the chief deputy of the Organized Crime and Drug Enforcement Squad (EDOA) within the Alicante Judicial Police Organic Unit. Also present was a Civil Guard from the Alicante Command Weapons Detachment who took part in the first promotions of women in the Civil Guard and became the first woman to complete the Mastery of Arms course in 1994; a civilian guard from Calp Company’s VioGen Team focusing on gender violence; and a trainee student guard assigned to Citizen Security at El Verger Main Station.
woman’s existence
Officials noted that women began contributing to the Civil Guard in 1950 with the creation of midwife roles within the service. These women, many of whom were widows or dependents of the organization, served both on land and at sea, including roles in customs and tax-related units where their main mission was the search for women in need of assistance and protective action.
That history continued to evolve. In February 1988, formal entry for women into the Civil Guard on equal terms with men was established. Today, the share of women in the corps stands at 9.47 percent, totaling 7,741 female personnel out of 79,059. Women are increasingly represented across almost all specialties, reflecting ongoing changes in recruitment, training, and career advancement across the force.