Félix Bolaños, Spain's Minister of Presidency, Justice, and Relations with the Courts, announced on March 8, during International Women's Day, a 50% increase in judges dedicated to cases of violence against women.

This announcement was made via his social media account and subsequently reiterated at the XV Congress of the Socialist Party of Galicia.

Bolaños stated that this initiative aims to "protect women" as he highlighted the seriousness of machismo as a pervasive form of discrimination.

He emphasized that specialized judges would focus on all forms of violence against women, thereby creating "safer environments and more protection."

Bolaños also took this opportunity to assert the achievements of the Socialist Party in advancing gender equality, attributing all measures to the Socialists and criticizing right-wing parties for their attempts to impede these progresses in courts.

He characterized the initiatives as a move towards a "stronger and more feminist justice system."

The announcement comes amidst warnings from 135 specialized gender violence magistrates who expressed concerns about the recent legal reforms presented in the Justice Efficiency Law.

These magistrates have cautioned that the law could lead to a "total collapse" of the courts handling violence against women cases.

The new legislation expands the jurisdiction of these specialized courts to include additional offenses such as those related to sexual freedom or female genital mutilation, provided the victim is a woman.

Previously, these courts only had such competencies when there was an emotional link between the victim and the perpetrator.

Judges in the field have raised alarms that the changes may represent a significant step backward in the fight against gender-based violence, warning of potential vulnerabilities and risks for women and children who may not receive adequate legal attention due to increased caseloads and insufficient resources.