derechos constitucionales

Spain’s Constitution contains three provisions particularly relevant to gender justice.

Article 48 states that both men and women have equal civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights. Articles 49 to 59 protect the family and the rights of each member of its members. In turn, article 60 states that government authorities must promote public policies to prevent any kind of violence within the family unit. Article 89 provides for special labor protections for pregnant and lactating women, who cannot be dismissed by their employers. Article 115 supports peasant woman by allowing their participation in public debates on rural matters.

The case concerned the breach of constitutional guarantees of due process and the right of defense. The Supreme Court of Justice, Criminal Division, ruled in favor of the application of art. 499 Code on Criminal Procedure of 1890, revoking the sentence enacted by the Criminal Court of Appeal 3^rd Division and acquitting the defendant. The defendant was accused of sexual abuse and rape of his stepdaughters. The action was brought by the presumptive victims’ aunt.

The case concerned sexual abuse involving an underage victim. The court ruled in accordance with article 135.1º, 4º of the Criminal Code, on sexual abuse of minors, finding the defendant guilty and sentencing him to eight years in prison. It was argued that the defendant had several sexual encounters with the plaintiff, who was a minor. For such purposes, the defendant used to pick the plaintiff up at school and take her in his car to empty places to have sexual intercourse.