Spain’s equality minister Ana Redondo strongly criticised the Andalusian government on 16 September 2026 because the Unidades de Valoración Integral de Violencia de Género had been placed under the remit of a department led by Vox . She called this “incoherent” and “nonsense”, since the units provide key expert reports for protecting people affected by domestic and gender-based violence. Redondo called for an immediate face-to-face meeting with the president of the Junta de Andalucía, Juanma Moreno, and offered to meet that same day.
As a current reason for concern, the Equality Ministry pointed to the trend in fatal violence against women in Andalusia in recent years and the resulting “particular concern”. The central government convened the Comité de Crisis on violence against women in Andalusia for the first time. Madrid said it was “fully available” to the regional government to discuss operational issues.
The dispute stems from a restructuring within the Junta de Andalucía, which placed the Institutos de Medicina Legal and, consequently, coordination of the assessment units under the Consejería de Justicia. This department is currently overseen politically by Vox. The legal changes were published in the Boletín Oficial de la Junta de Andalucía . Government sources in Seville say the changes follow the existing administrative system and that the units will continue to function properly.
The positions attributed to the two sides differ: Redondo warns of risks to trust and continuity if a political actor that has previously questioned key elements of the protection system takes charge of these responsibilities. Representatives of the Junta de Andalucía reject the criticism and point to the legal basis for the reorganisation. The regional government also stresses that technical protection measures, such as electronic monitoring, will continue; any indications of shortcomings affecting safety should be examined without politicising the work of specialists.
Regardless of the dispute, the Unidades de Valoración Integral de Violencia de Género produce interdisciplinary reports that courts and police use as a basis for decisions on protective measures. Changes in responsibilities can affect procedures, staffing authority and the way those affected perceive the service. No specific effects on case numbers or the effectiveness of individual measures can currently be established; such claims should be identified as political assessments. Both governments said they were willing to talk; as of press time, it remained unclear whether or when a face-to-face meeting between Ana Redondo and Juanma Moreno would take place.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).