Anti-punitive Responses to Gender-Based Violence(s): Feminist Experiences from Granada, Spain

This article originates from two research projects: “Violencias de género en un contexto de cambios: retos y desafíos para un análisis desde la perspectiva de género” and “Políticas feministas: análisis de prácticas no punitivas y modelos alternativos en el contexto de las violencias de género”. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Granada, Spain, we challenge the unidirectional approach to addressing victims of gender-based violence. Our aim is to transcend the singular notion of “violence” to discuss “gender-based violence(s)” in plural, and to advocate for approaches that extend beyond punitive measures in the formulation of public policies. To this end, we critically review the punitive turn in public policy, specifically in policies designed to protect women, incorporating perspectives from peripheral and community-based experiences. This issue has only recently gained attention in Spain, where scholars have underscored the importance of documenting informal, decentralized, and unofficial responses.