Women students in Madrid have been making their voices heard and demanding change. A week ago, a video clip that went viral showed insults and verbal abuse of a misogynistic nature from male students at a Madrid university hall of residence towards their female counterparts living in a housing block opposite.

Condemnation led by prime minister

The issue has gone to the top of government with Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez condemning the abuse on his Twitter feed. He said actions that "generate hate and threaten women" would not be tolerated, adding: "It's especially painful to see the protagonists are young people."

CGTN Europe went to the University of Madrid campus to speak to some of the protesters.

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"Maybe they (the male students) were influenced by their colleagues in the same dormitory," said one female student. "I don't know, but they were all together with the same misogynistic attitude and that has to end. We have to fight to stop these kinds of episodes."

Another student said the university should take action against such instances of abuse. "Those in charge of the dorms should not allow this. The university is meant to educate people and you can't educate people with such intolerant values, that promote violence, aggression and abuse."

Viral video

The video shows a male student opening his window and shouting abuse across the other building. His chants brought cheers from other male students who actively joined in. 

Students that have been interviewed said this was a ritual that happened regularly. 

Garcia Artiga, the Director of the Halls of Residence, added those involved would need to write letters of apology to their fellow female students and that he would ensure that hall disciplinary rules were fully enforced. This could mean expulsion for those involved. 

The government launched a campaign for more gender equality in recent years and their Equality Minister Irene Montero has said that this kind of behavior shows that more education on sexual consent is needed.

The investigation into the incident is still ongoing. Those involved would all be questioned, and decisions would be made following that process.

Cover image: Women students in Madrid are protesting misogynist abuse which they say is rife on campus. /CGTNEurope