00:00A dog that was mistreated ended up becoming the emotional support for dozens of women victims of gender violence.
00:07that they had to testify in court.
00:09His name was Bob and his story marked a turning point in the way some
00:14Places around the world are supporting victims of gender-based violence during legal proceedings.
00:21But wait, let's tell the story properly and from the beginning.
00:24Bob was a Golden Retriever who was rescued from a dog pound in Tarragona, Spain in 2015.
00:31When they found him, he had pellets embedded in his body, indicating that he had suffered abuse for a long time.
00:38After receiving care and recovering, those who rescued him realized he was a loving, patient dog.
00:46calm and allowed strangers to pet him for long periods.
00:52Furthermore, he seemed to feel comfortable around them.
00:55Those characteristics were precisely what made him the ideal candidate for an initiative that until then had not
01:04It had precedents in Spain.
01:06Judicial assistance dogs for victims of gender violence.
01:11The question was clear.
01:12Could the presence of an animal help reduce the stress and anxiety women feel when they go
01:19to testify before the court?
01:20Well, in 2017, after a process of preparation and training, Bob joined a pilot project
01:28Driven by different organizations, it began to provide support to the victims.
01:33The results were immediate.
01:36One of the women said she was very nervous, but when she started petting Bob, the dog...
01:42He conveyed peace and calm.
01:43He stayed by her side while she prepared psychologically to face the trial, accompanied her to the door, and waited for her.
01:50outside the room.
01:52When he finally came out, Bob was still there.
01:54Seeing him again after he testified also gave her a lot of peace of mind.
01:58Bob did not replace psychological care or professional support.
02:02Its role was to serve as a support tool, helping the victim to cope more calmly with the
02:10a moment to remember and recount a traumatic experience.
02:13Let's think for a moment about what it means to go to court after having been a victim of
02:19gender violence.
02:20It's necessary to recount what happened, answer uncomfortable questions, remember painful situations, and in many cases feel fear and anxiety.
02:30pressure or fear of not being believed.
02:32Therefore, when we talk about access to justice, it is also important to talk about how that path works for victims.
02:40what support they receive and what is being done to prevent the process from becoming another ordeal
02:46suffering.
02:47And that's where these four-legged creatures can become great allies.
02:52A study conducted by researchers at Pennsylvania State University analyzed the impact of working dogs on
02:59the courts regarding victims of domestic violence.
03:03Based on surveys of 69 people receiving legal defense in these cases, researchers found that the presence
03:11The dogs' behavior made the victims feel more comfortable.
03:14and that their willingness to appear in court even increased when they knew there would be an animal accompanying them.
03:22Although Bob did not enter the courtroom during the testimony, his story helped to demonstrate that dogs could have
03:28an important role in supporting victims.
03:32Bob sadly passed away in 2024 after helping many women, but his legacy did not end there.
03:40In 2026, something happened that marked a new milestone. For the first time in Spain, Eica, a specially trained dog,
03:48He entered a courtroom to accompany a woman during her testimony at an oral trial.
03:54The event set a precedent in that country's judicial system by offering this service publicly and
04:00free.
04:01But it must be said that the idea of using dogs in judicial contexts did not originate with Bob or Eica.
04:07Since the end of the 20th century, there have been experiences in the United States with support dogs for child and adolescent victims.
04:14of abuse.
04:15Over time, these programs have also begun to extend to adult survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and violence.
04:24of gender.
04:25And in Latin America, these types of initiatives have also been emerging.
04:28In Mexico, for example, there is the case of Epi, a dog linked to the strategy for addressing violence.
04:35gender studies at the National Autonomous University.
04:38In Colombia, for now, there are no public records of programs of this type.
04:42But the experiences of these countries help us to think about how women's healthcare could be improved
04:49who have suffered from gender violence when they decide to go to justice.
04:53A particularly important question in a system that still has many, many difficulties in guaranteeing judicial processes that protect
05:04the rights of victims.
05:06A study by the Minuto de Dios University found that women victims of gender violence find in the
05:14Colombian judicial system: revictimization instead of protection.
05:18In addition to prejudice and sexism, there are lengthy bureaucratic processes and, in some cases, a lack of sensitivity.
05:27those involved in the legal process.
05:29These situations can delay access to justice and worsen the psychological and emotional impact.
05:36That is why the study raises the need to humanize care within the judicial system.
05:42And perhaps one of the ways to make courts less traumatic environments for vulnerable people is
05:50precisely in the company of these beings who do not speak, do not judge or ask questions, they simply accompany.
05:59And for a woman who has to retell a story she never wanted to live, sometimes feeling accompanied is a blessing.
06:06It can also be a way to begin to heal.
06:09Thank you.
06:09Thank you.
06:09Thank you.
06:09Thank you.
