The Valencia Bar Council, formed by the eight Bar Associations of the Valencian Community, spoke out strongly this week. It condemned the decision to bar new arguments on a forensic framework addressing sexist violence and rejected moves perceived as eroding the gender violence protection network across regions. In its plenary gathering, the council discussed the proposed reorganization of facilities that would place jurisdiction over gender violence into a single regional group. Specifically in the Alicante prefecture, the plan would centralize Violence Against Women courts in Alicante, while Elche, Novelda, San Vicente in Alicante, and Benidorm with La Vila Joiosa would take on related caseloads. This reallocation was described as a potential curtailment of local access to specialized services. This stance was presented as a major concern for the proper handling of gender-based violence cases in more remote or underserved districts. [Source attribution: Valencia Bar Council]
The CVCA underscored the position of the Valencian legal profession in favor of establishing dedicated courts for gender violence. Yet it voiced opposition to the dismantling of established boundaries that currently define jurisdiction across various parts of Valencia. While it did not spell out every scenario, the council suggested that the plan could undermine the protective framework and hinder victims by relocating them over long distances, sometimes up to eighty kilometers, away from trusted support networks. [Source attribution: Valencia Bar Council]
Members also noted their concern that community lawyers would push for timely transfers before the proposal is approved, a deadline that has not materialized. There were reports from the Ministry of Justice about potential reductions in authority for gender violence matters in certain regions, and such changes were not anticipated in the initial plans. When the High Court of Justice of the Community proposed, alongside the Government Chamber, to consolidate courts for gender-based violence, critics warned that this would strip many courts of jurisdiction. The CVCA therefore urged the affected municipalities and Valencian lawyers to push back against what they described as undue pressure and to seek a workable solution for all involved. [Source attribution: Valencian Bar Council]
special shift
The Valencia Community Bars maintain a dedicated approach to gender-based violence. More than a thousand professionals are connected in this field, possessing the necessary training and experience to provide round-the-clock service, including a 24 hour availability every day of the year. Recent data challenges the claim of a 95 percent success rate, indicating that the average response remains significantly lower. When legal aid is requested at police stations, it is provided without delay. [Source attribution: CVCA]
The CVCA argues that the criteria for creation must place the victim at the center and cannot be reduced to a simple arithmetic tally of cases per court. The results cited should be interpreted through the averages recommended by the General Council of the Judiciary, while also considering thousands of potential victims who relocate due to the uneven distribution of settlements that meet these statistics. This perspective emphasizes the principle of proximity, asserting that shifting victims away from nearby support networks harms those who rely on local services. [Source attribution: CVCA]