HIGH ACHIEVERS How these two expat How these twoa women women made difference ancentury expat and a local - did a apart two centuries apart
International
Women’sDay All inside our International Women’s Day special supplement
OLIVE PRESS
The
GIBRALTAR
FREE
Vol. 6 Issue 168
Fear
However she didn’t want to give more information for reasons of her family’s security and safety. She has only managed to have intermittent contact with her family back home since the invasion began two weeks ago. “Many of my family, especially the children, are very afraid. They are living in basements and in fear for their lives,” she explained. Describing the close relationship between the Russian and Ukrainian communities in Spain, she insists she doesn’t blame Russians individually. “I have a very good relationship with some Russians here,” she said. “The majority of them disagree with Putin, but they are scared to share their views.” Opinion Page 6
We delve into the exclusive hillside haven frequented by the worlds elite, see our 4-page Benahavis special supplement inside
March 9th - March 22nd 2022
UKRAINE CRISIS SPECIAL
CRUEL IRONY UKRAINIAN Halyna Surkova, 53, has poured her heart out to the Olive Press about the shocking irony that the couple’s daughter is currently trapped in the besieged city, while he is attacking it. The Malaga-based translator fears her daughter, 31, and her grandson, 3, could be killed while cowering in a basement as Putin’s forces surround the city. “I am suffering a lot of distress, I had to visit the doctor because this situation is heavily impacting my mental health,” revealed the former Kyiv resident. “It is terrible to think that my ex-husband is among the forces that could kill his own daughter.” She added he was a senior and ‘very experienced’ soldier, who had killed ‘many times’ before.
www.theolivepress.es
The Rock’s ONLY free local paper
International
March 2022
Women’s Day
A special four-page pullout www.theolivepress.es
END THE VIOLENCE A CAPTION
Fiona Govan Digital News Editor
International Women’s Day – celLTHOUGH Spain treats ebrated annually on March 8 – is men and women equally a day that commemorates by law, the and the government social, political and worked hard to educate has achievements of women.economic the entire population about This year is particularly many women still report equality, as we watch our sister poignant sexist beUkrainians haviour and ‘machista’ suffer the brutal reality attitudes. rights. Some of the most outmoded making our own perceivedof war, atti- Feminists made strugtudes hark back to the gles for equality in our rapid progress after compared to other countries in Eu- voters Franco era of the dictator’s generally clearly approved. National Catholicism when, safe environments pale death and as Spain rope and worldwide. Until the elaboin 1939, developed into comthe dictator removed as a democracy, women’s ration of the 2017 State Pact, never Vox also has made some question- parison. any powers rights started women had gained. to match those of other before had a government been so able statements about women’s Eighty years ago, almost working roles. committed to the eradication to the forced to be mothersFemales were European countries. month, as the Second of gen- And when it World War der violence.” wives, with no legal right and house- The husband’s permission comes to the workplace raged, my grandmother rule to work, was itself, own fled Quintanilla points out the proportion of women Kyiv abolished in 1975, the property, or get divorced. that, in May managerial adultery law 2019, in as a Jewish refugee, the only Spanish Congress had positions remains around go to prison for adultery,They could went in 1978, and divorce member of her family was legal- most female the a third of that of to survive. straying husbands weren’t although ised in 1981. men with members She lost her family, her punished. home, her – 166, taking 47.4% in its history bers dropping even furtherthe num- belongings In 1987, A 1953 guide showed of seats. This reers as caand even her name as women how agreed the Spanish Supreme Court made the Spanish progress. to be a good wife, including that a rape victim didn’t she adopted a fake have leader in gender parliament the EU Spain's female executives identity ensur- to prove they ing that the house was had fought the parity. earn 15.1 forged papers to begin a new and percent less than their life, children tidy, and dinner spotless, the In 2004, the government man back In the Cabinet, that number is male counter- firstly in Iran and then when introduced higher, with even once Women were told not on the table. what is known as the “Integrated women taking the major- parts, although this is just below the again forced to flee during the IsEU average salary husband with “trivial” to bother their Law”, which funded the Government ity of ministerial roles, including that according to the gap of 16 percent lamic Revolution, in England. of Deputy Prime a patriarchal society, chatter. It was Delegation of Violence Against latest EU data from But she never lost with women en. And, Wom- job yet though. Minister. Not the top 2017. her treated as chattels. in 2017, a State Pact ble Ukrainian spirit and indomitawas However, a backslide Quintanilla says: “On average, that same formed against gender Progress has been made spirit is apparent in every image 2019 when the far-rightoccurred in ish women earn €5,977 less Span- of women Carmen Quintanilla, viceviolence. Ever since Franco died per year Vox president of Spain’s broadcast from the in 1975, wom- AFAMMER, en’s groups and female third largest political - now than men and occupy more than 70% war-torn country which works for women party of part-time contracts. since - claimed that the gender have worked to rid the politicians in rural areas explained: “Spain Of these wom- sian invasion - whether the Rusviolence en, 46% affirm is a law favours reporting ‘machista’ culture and country of a pioneer and benchmark they are part-time from the frontline, country in placed with women and should be re- because they secure equal terms sheltering in care for dependents of laws that ensure equality, a family violence bunkers spite this being controversial,law. De- cannot afford childcare services.” or to safety or trekking miles to get across borders. some Does Spain have a high femicide rate? March 8 is a day to celebrate The Spanish government site for do- grandmothers, our mothers, our mestic violence (DV) and equality sisters and our daughters, our provides annual statistics our Sarah Cowley fellow about womankind and and to come femicide. At the end of The new Deputy Head of 2021, Spain together in solidarity and Mission at the British Embassy became the first European peace in Madrid is a pioneer as country in the hope of creating a better to start recording all femicides, the first ever UK ambassador world. in cases where the aggressor even portantAnd this year it is more imto take maternity leave than ever. didn’t know the victim. Last year, 44 women Her message on International Women’s Day is one that and nine of the male were killed to all aspects of life and perpetrators transfers had previously been denounced “There is a responsibility career. for for those of us who have domestic violence (DV). do something to showcase been the first to that to others, so they can pares to 47 in 2020 and This comdone and how it can be see it can be Harking back a decade,55 in 2019. “Women shout not hide done. their achievements and 73 deaths of women at Spain had est about them. They may or be overly modthe hands of male partners or ex-partners but to other people they not seem like big achievements to you in 2003 and 72 in 2004, so You could be a role modelcould be really inspirational. rates have at and blaze a trail for what least decreased. others can do.” Spain’s come a long way tle for equality isn’t over but the batyet.
Spain has some of Europe’s most progressive gender government-funded education laws campaigns discouraging and violence. But is it working? Jo Chipchase takes a look. domestic
Blazing a trail
Rock refuge Family who fled Russian invasion of Ukraine welcomed in Gibraltar A GIBRALTARIAN and his young family were among the more than a million refugees fleeing Russian bombs after Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. As Kremlin troops advanced on Kyiv, Darren Victor, his Ukrainian wife Natalya and their two young children, five-year-old
By Elena Goçmen Rueda
Gastronom Gastronomíay
A
B
ll about
March 2022
952 85 50 25 www.benahavi s.es
enahavis
AYUNTAMIENTO
DE BENAHAVÍS
Sky and four-year-old Eric, hid in a freezing bunker before making their way towards the Polish border. They then caught a plane and arrived safely back in Gibraltar where they met with Chief Minister Fabian Picardo at his Convent Place office last Friday.
Welcome
“Victor and his family have been
welcomed in Gibraltar after travelling from Ukraine for several days", said a statement released
MOUNTAIN ESCAPE HILLTOP HEAVEN:
Benahavis is often
frequented by the
British elite (inset
Boris Johnson with
Sunday Mirror front
page), with stunning
views and fantastic
cuisine, it’s easy
Hillside views, top to the bright lights tucker and a stone’s throw is it any wonder theof the Costa del Sol… British Prime Ministe recently chose Benaha r vis for his hols
I
952 147 834
T is the place to to get away from be if you want t came for a week last Autumn to take a string of the it all - just ask a few hikes who have visited rich and famous painting, oneand dabble in a bit of or have homes in of his favourite Benahavis. pastimes. The people who have it all recog- Staying in the amazing home nise a kindred spirit owned in Benahavis, by the UK’s wealthy Goldsmith the pueblo that also family, he was mountain seclusion has it all - from eagle-eyed only spotted once by an buzzing Costa del and nature to by his easelphotographer as he stood on a sunny west-facing and nightlife within Sol restaurants terrace. incredibly easy reach. His visit came in an auspicious While they may never want to leave month for the pretty town, with the exclusive gated producers the Zagaleta or Madronal,estates like La filming a from Netflix, also in situ famous celebs holiday including Hugh Grant, of Cristiano Ronaldo for the hit series The Crown. Lady Di and Princess Diana Renting out sen the leafy enclave have all cho- enclave of a villa in the exclusive Zagaleta, they portrayed as the perfect base from which to enjoy the bright- the mid-1990s holiday Diana er lights of nearby took with her friend Jemima Goldsmith at being able to retreatMarbella, while her family estate, Tramores. to privacy and seclusion just a few minutes drive The cast and crew were away. regularly seen around the village, both The most recent visitor was the Brit- various scenes, as well as filming ish Prime Minister enjoying their time off. who the Olive PressBoris Johnson, first revealed, Continues overleaf SCREEN-WORTHY: Benahavis is
to see why
of Netflix new series
‘The Crown’
by the Gibraltar Government. “The work to bring them over was led by Ivor Lopez and Tito Danino of Civil Contingencies, liaising with an ad hoc See page 24 humanitarian network in Ukraine
Tel: 952 147 834 TM
the setting for filming
BACK ON THE ROCK: The Victor family and Picardo
and around it.
“Thank you to Ivor and Tito for
their dedication, as well as the unnamed individuals helping us on humanitarian grounds” said Picardo in a post on Twitter. “Tito traveled to Poland to deliver travel documents. We have more work to do for others”. See Ukraine Special, pages 2 & 3