Spanish deal to tackle gender-based violence Published duration 25 July 2017

image copyright AFP image caption Governments have tried to tackle gender-based violence since a notorious murder in 1997

Spain's political parties are celebrating a "historic" €1bn (£895m; $1.2bn) five-year programme to tackle gender-based violence.

The measures include providing victims of abuse with six months' unconditional unemployment benefit to give them a new start, and outlawing imprisoned abusers from being visited by their children.

The agreement was reached after six months and 66 expert hearings.

Reports say 870 women died from gender-based violence between 2003 and 2016.

So far in 2017, at least 31 women have died along with six minors. Sixteen minors have been orphaned.

Spanish politicians have pursued successive programmes to address the issue since 1997, when 60-year-old Ana Orantes was beaten, thrown over a balcony and then burned to death by her ex-husband after repeatedly complaining to authorities about his violent behaviour.

She had been forced to divide her home with her husband on the order of a divorce court.

Among the 200 measures that received parliamentary endorsement late on Monday are:

The status of victim will be extended to women who have not yet filed a criminal complaint, to allow them to access safeguards and assistance

Mechanisms for identifying victims of gender-based violence will be established in hospital emergency rooms and primary care

Children orphaned by gender-based violence will have priority access to state benefits including educational support. Their guardians (excluding the abuser) will receive tax benefits and priority access to housing

Tougher sanctions for gender-based crimes committed on the internet

School curriculums to include lessons to tackle sexism and raise awareness of the feminist movement

The final form of the measures will have to be approved by parliamentary commissions on Friday - which will also monitor their implementation.

It was hailed as an "unprecedented event" by Javier Maroto, a leading figure in the ruling Popular Party.

Although there was cross-party satisfaction at the agreement, there was some criticism that some of the measures did not go far enough from the Socialist PSOE and left-wing Podemos parties.

image copyright Twitter - amparorubiales image caption Amparo Rubiales tweets: "The state pact against macho violence is necessary, but not sufficient!"

image copyright Twitter - loidamuol image caption Loida Muñoz tweets: "I welcome the political unanimity and advance... leave partisan interests behind, think about lives"