[Gender based violence in the Spanish Parliamentary Agenda (1979-2004)].
OBJECTIVE
To systematically examine the characteristics of the processes of formulating and taking decisions on gender-based violence in the Spanish Parliament.


METHODS
A search was performed for all parliamentary initiatives on gender-based violence in the Spanish parliament (1979-2004) and their qualitative content was analyzed. The ratio between initiatives on gender-based violence and those on other issues was calculated by years and legislatures. The probability of presenting initiatives on gender-based violence was analyzed by sex and political group (government vs. opposition) (odds ratio, 95% CI and statistical significance using the Mantel-Haenszel method).


RESULTS
In the 26 years studied, there were 322,187 initiatives, of which 569 concerned gender-based violence. Initiatives on this issue increased in 1998 (4.12 per 1,000), 2001 (4.49 per 1,000) and 2004 (9.19 per 1,000). Sixty-seven percent were questions to the government. The majority of the initiatives were registered without agreement or decision (81%). Men had a higher probability of asking questions (OR = 17.08; 95%CI, 5.91-55.62), but women instigated 60% of the initiatives. Parliamentary groups in government showed a higher probability of asking questions (OR = 2.63; 95%CI, 1.32-5.31), but 88% of the initiatives were promoted by the opposition.


CONCLUSIONS
The process of policy construction has been started in Spain, which could lead to the development of true policies on gender-based violence in the future. Parliamentary activity on this issue should be maintained in the long-term, as the problem shows no sign of abating.
Vives-Cases
Carmen
C
Area de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Universidad de Alicante, Alicante, España. Red Nacional de Investigación sobre Salud y Género, España. carmen.vives@ua.es
Gil-González
Diana
D
Carrasco-Portiño
Mercedes
M
Alvarez-Dardet
Carlos
C
D005260:Female; D006076:Government; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D011287:Prejudice; D013030:Spain; D014754:Violence / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*