The Provincial Fiscal of Madrid This week he filed a complaint in court against the playwright Ramon Paso for alleged sexual crimes against several young women between 18 and 25 years old that would have taken place between 2018 and 2023 during castings in which the playwright and the alleged victims participated, Efe reports.
As reported by the lawyer Luisa Estvez Martinezwhich represents 14 women who have denounced the screenwriter and stage director before the Prosecutor’s Officeand sources in the case confirm, the complaint from the public ministry is in the deanery of the investigative courts of Madrid awaiting distribution.
The Prosecutor’s Office has taken this step after completing the pre-procedural proceedings that it opened in November of last year and taking statements from the 14 women, who have ratified, one by one, their complaint against the theater director, grandson of the playwright. Alfonso Paso and great-grandson of the writer Enrique Jardiel Poncela.
According to the lawyer, the prosecution’s complaint has been filed for alleged crimes of sexual assault – some of a continuous nature -, harassment, coercion or against moral integrity.
It was the lawyer Estávez who informed the Madrid Prosecutor’s Office last November of the reported events and has provided documents and psychological reports of the victims, the majority at the beginning of their theatrical career and whom Paso would have met at the castings. to those who presented themselves.
“Crimes of sexual assault of different intensity”
After collecting their testimony, the public ministry questioned the fourteen girls, who ratified their complaint against the playwright for events that allegedly took place between 2018 and 2023, regarding Paso’s theatrical activity.
The lawyer has specified that the majority of the complainants, although not all, were victims of events that fell within alleged crimes of sexual assault, in their different intensitiesand also mentions the alleged coercion and harassment that they would have suffered from the playwright at the same time.
On April 10, the Prosecutor’s Office decreed the conclusion of the investigation proceedings that it opened after learning of “the facts against the sexual freedom” of the young women that the lawyer transferred to it, and agreed to file a complaint before the Madrid courts, which took place this Tuesday.
The head of the court in which the case falls will be responsible for whether or not to admit the complaint to processing.
His work, suspended after the departure of Pepe Viyuela
Ramon Paso These days he was immersed in the promotion of his new work, Jardiel in lovein it Infanta Isabel Theater from Madrid. Starring Pepe Viyuelatells the love story between his great-grandfather and Josefina Pealver.
The protagonist has left the play this Wednesday upon learning of the court case that is being opened before Paso: “I don’t want to call him. I don’t want to continue with the show. I’m leaving.” After his departure, the Infanta Isabel has suspended the performance for this Wednesday, although it is still unknown what will happen in the long run with a work that premiered just a week ago and that is performed every day of the week except Mondays.
In January, I passed version and directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream of William Shakespeare.
The Ministry of Culture promotes a Unit for the Prevention of Sexist Violence
He culture Ministry has shown “full support” for the victims of sexual violence and has reiterated that work is being done to make it “a safe sector” in this area. “Beyond the action of justice, the Ministry is promoting the Unit for Attention and Prevention of Sexist Violence in the cultural sector and in the coming weeks we will be in a position to launch it,” sources from the department of Ernest Urtasun.
These same sources have indicated that Culture is working to “achieve a safe sector for all women” and the next step will be to enable a site “where victims can go to feel accompanied.”
SGAE calls for “exemplary measures”
After complaints against Ramon Pasothe General Society of Authors and Editors (SGAE) has demanded that Spanish public and private institutions in the field of culture adopt “exemplary measures” to prevent situations of sexist violence.
In statements to Europa Press, the institution has stated that it is “opposed” to any situation of harassment, violence or sexual assault against women in any area, although they have claimed to be “unaware of this case.”
“On previous similar occasions we have expressed our total rejection of the sexual abuse suffered by women in the field of creation,” said a spokesperson, who recalls that this society has already launched a Equality Group.
The SGAE considers it “essential” for coexistence in equality and for freedom of creation that women see themselves “supported, not only by creators, but also by organizations that “must ensure the total eradication of abuses of power, generally male , in the work environment”.
In this sense, he has assured that “inaction and indifference only perpetuate patriarchy in creation and collude” with violence and sexual abuse towards female creators.
Also the Union of Actors and Actresses has called for “zero tolerance” with cases of sexual violence and has encouraged any actress who finds herself in this situation to report it.
The union has explained that in the workplace, and especially in the collective agreements agreed with companies in the sector, there are measures that “seek to put limits” on these situations. However, it has urged to continue creating and improving tools and protocols that allow “eliminating impunity” for these acts and guaranteeing that victims have channels to report.
“We encourage any actress who suffers violence or harassment to tell. Although we know that it is not always easy to take the first step, we encourage you to take it with whoever you consider: acquaintances, family, co-workers… Silence is the first step.” obstacle and must be broken to begin to implement measures,” he concluded.
