The Spanish Government Delegation in the Basque Country has announced a series of 14 activities aimed at raising awareness about gender violence as part of the third edition of the 'Otoño Morado' campaign. These initiatives will take place over the coming weeks in the provinces of Álava, Gipuzkoa, and Bizkaia, culminating in the Menina Awards ceremony at the Palacio Villasuso in Vitoria-Gasteiz on 19 November.
Marisol Garmendia, the Government Delegate in the Basque Country, initiated this awareness campaign upon her appointment three years ago, citing the urgent need to strengthen institutional commitment and continue educating society to eradicate all forms of violence against women, which she described as an unacceptable reality in an advanced society.
As of 2026, there have been 42 women murdered by their partners or ex-partners, with a total of 1,383 deaths recorded since 2003. The 'Otoño Morado 2026' campaign began in September with a screening of the documentary 'No estás Loca' followed by a discussion with director, screenwriter, and actress María Bestar at the Príncipe cinemas in San Sebastián. The event attracted significant attendance, encouraging further initiatives.
October and November programme
The 'Otoño Morado 2026' campaign is supported by various municipalities, including Vitoria-Gasteiz, Bilbao, and Algorta, which are collaborating on different activities. The local councils of Iruña de Oca and Lasarte-Oria will host performances of the play 'La última vez', adapted from Gracia Morales' work, by the theatre company ‘+ K Dos’, featuring Mertxe Galiano and Cristina Romea. The play pays tribute to women who speak out while engaging in domestic tasks, highlighting their struggles and resilience.
A training programme has also been launched for personnel responsible for the various 'violet points'—support centres for victims of gender violence—across government offices, as well as for professionals in the State Security Forces, aimed at enhancing their understanding and intervention skills in situations of violence affecting vulnerable women.
Another significant event in the 'Otoño Morado 2026' campaign is the 'Jornada sobre la Trata de Mujeres en la Era Digital', scheduled for late October at the Municipal Centre of Ibaiondo in Bilbao. This event will include three sessions focusing on the institutional context, police perspectives, and insights from the third sector, featuring experts and representatives from security forces and organisations such as Fiet, Diaconía, and Askabide.
An outdoor exhibition titled 'La Leyenda del Hilo Rojo Vs. La realidad de la violencia digital' will also be part of the campaign, set to be displayed on the Paseo Fray Francisco de Vitoria in the second half of November. Illustrator Higinia Garay will present a critical view contrasting the romantic imagery associated with the 'Legend of the Red Thread' and the harsh realities of digital violence, aiming to raise public awareness of these issues.
In addition to this outdoor exhibition, the Government Delegation has organised a series of travelling indoor exhibitions in collaboration with ID arte - Escuela de Diseño Pública de Euskadi. These will take place in various locations, including Bilbao, Deusto, and Algorta, using art and culture as tools for awareness and reflection on violence against women.
Menina Awards
This year’s Menina Awards will be presented at the Palacio Villasuso in Vitoria-Gasteiz. As a traditional highlight of the 'Otoño Morado' campaign, the awards, promoted by the Ministry of Equality, aim to raise public consciousness about gender violence, coinciding with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November. Special recognitions will be awarded to a Basque social collective, a public initiative, and an individual who have made significant contributions to the fight against gender violence this year.
Finally, renowned sociologist Carmen Ruiz Repullo, who specialises in gender violence among adolescents and young people, will deliver a lecture at the University of Deusto in San Sebastián in November, focusing on new forms of violence against women.
