Barcelona, Spain, Mar 31 (EFE).- Hundreds of protesters gathered in Barcelona on Monday to express their outrage over the acquittal of footballer Dani Alves on sexual assault charges by the High Court of Justice of Catalonia (TSJC).
The feminist demonstration, organized under the slogan “Shame and Impunity,” featured chants such as “We Believe you, Sister!” and “If they touch one of us, they touch us all!”
The demonstration was called by Feminist November and ed by the Unitary Platform Against Gender Violence, and the Assistance association for women who have been sexually attacked (AADAS), among others.
A “dangerous precedent” for justice
Dolo Pulido, spokesperson for Feminist November, denounced the court’s ruling as a “grave precedent” that strengthens impunity for aggressors and weakens protections for women.
She also warned that the decision could further discourage victims from reporting sexual violence.
According to Spain’s Ministry of Equality, only 8% of sexual assaults are reported, and of those, just 20% go to trial, with only one in ten trials resulting in a conviction.
In their manifesto, activists accused the judicial system of “reproducing patriarchal patterns” and “perpetuating rape culture.”
They emphasized that the acc had remained consistent throughout the legal process, while Alves changed his version of events five times.
Lack of gender perspective in court ruling
Legal expert and activist Marisa Fernández criticized the court for its lack of gender perspective, calling the acquittal “unacceptable.”
She expressed hope that Spain’s Supreme Court would overturn the ruling, as it did in the La Manada Case.
While most political parties voiced concerns over the ruling’s chilling effect on sexual assault reports, they also stated their respect for judicial decisions, a stance judicial associations have urged the public to uphold in response to widespread criticism.
Acquittal overturns initial conviction
The TSJC last week unanimously overturned Alves’ conviction after he had been sentenced by the Barcelona nightclub on Dec. 31, 2022.
In the ruling, the argued that the original conviction contained “gaps, inconsistencies, and contradictions” regarding the facts, their legal interpretation, and their consequences. EFE
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