Institutional Violence and Gender Violence

Abstract

The  objective  of  this  article  is  to  show  that  in  order  to  fully  understand  gender violence,  we must  be seriously  aware  that  this gender  violence  is also  nourished  by in- stitutional  violence,  i.e. actions  or omission  carried  out by the State  and its authorities. The f irst section of the article points out in which manner international  instruments  have developed the concept of institutional violence within the scope of violence against women and how institutional  violence can take different forms. In the second part, two empirical research  studies are used to show institutional  violence  in the application  of Act 1/2004, of Measures of Integral Protection against Gender Violence. It highlights how the judicial treatment of the phenomenon, influenced by male-centred practices and gender stereotypes, produces results which can be understood  as institutional  violence: a low conviction  rate, discriminating  stereotypes  in the conceptualisation  of gender  violence  and revictimising attention to women. The end of the article shows, with the examples of some women, some experiences  of institutional  violence within the scope of the criminal treatment of gender violence.