The secretary of state for equality, officially secretary of state for equality and eradication of violence against women, is a senior minister of the Spanish Department of Equality responsible for assisting the Minister of Equality in all matters relating to social equality—with special attention to gender equality— and prevention and elimination of all types of discrimination.[1]
| Secretary of State for Equality | |
|---|---|
| Secretario de Estado de Igualdad | |
 Coat of Arms used by the Government | |
 | |
| Ministry of Equality Secretariat of State for Equality | |
| Style | The Most Excellent (formal) Ms. Secretary of State (informal) |
| Abbreviation | SEIVG |
| Nominator | The Minister of Equality |
| Appointer | The Monarch |
| Precursor | Secretary-General for Equality |
| Formation | October 20, 2010 |
| First holder | Bibiana Aído |
| Website | www.igualdad.es |
_Presentación_de_los_candidatos-as_al_Congreso_y_Senado_del_PSE-EE.jpg)
The secretary of state, who is appointed by the monarch on the advice of the minister of equaliy, also implements the government policies to eliminate violence against women and against LGBTQ people.[1]
Since 4 June 2025, María Guijarro has served as secretary of state for equality.[2]
History
editThe Government's equality policies got a greater leadership during the governments of PM José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero. At the very first, the equality department was within the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs with the level of a General Secretariat between 2004 and 2008.
In 2008, after Zapatero's reelection, he elevated this department to a ministerial level, creating the Ministry of Equality until 2010 when the Ministry merged with the Ministry of Health and the Secretariat of State of Equality was properly created.
During the governments of PM Mariano Rajoy, the Secretariat merged with the Secretariat of State of Social Services creating the Secretariat of State of Social Services and Equality between very late 2011 and middle 2018.
In 2018, with the arrival of PM Pedro Sánchez the Secretariat of State recovered its full autonomy and importance when it was integrated in the Ministry of the Presidency, with the direct supervision of the Deputy Prime Minister.
In January 2020, the Ministry of Equality was re-established and the Secretariat of State was integrated into it. Since then, it is structured through three directorates-general: the Government Delegation for Gender Violence, a directorate-general for equality and another for LGBT people.
Structure
editFrom the Secretary of State depends the following officials:[1]
| Secretariat of State Organization (2026) | |
|---|---|
| Secretary of State | Cabinet |
| Institute of Women | |
| Government Delegation against Gender Violence |
Deputy Directorate-General for Inter-institutional Coordination on Violence against Women |
| Deputy Directorate-General for Awareness, Prevention and Studies of Violence against Women | |
| Regional Coordination Units for Violence against Women | |
| Provincial Unites for Violence against Women | |
| State Observatory of Violence against Women | |
| Directorate-General for Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination and against Racism | Deputy Directorate-General for Equal Treatment and Non-Discrimination and against Racism |
| Directorate-General for Real and Effective Equality of LGBT+ People | Deputy Directorate-General for LGBTI Rights |
List of secretaries of state
editBefore this office was created, all its duties were carried out by the Secretary-General for Equality first and by the Minister of Equality later.
| No. | Image | Name | Term of office | Ministers serving under: | Prime Minister appointed by: | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Began | Ended | Days of service | |||||
| 1st | .jpg) |
Bibiana Aído | 23 October 2010 | 23 July 2011 | 273 | Leire Pajín | José Luis Rodriguez Zapatero |
| 2nd | .jpg) |
Laura Seara Sobrado | 23 July 2011 | 31 December 2011 | 161 | ||
| 3rd | .jpg) |
Juan Manuel Moreno Bonilla | 31 December 2011 | 8 March 2014 | 798 | Ana Mato | Mariano Rajoy |
| 4th | .jpg) |
Susana Camarero | 8 March 2014 | 19 November 2016 | 987 | ||
| 5th | .svg) |
Mario Garcés | 19 November 2016 | 8 June 2018 | 566 | Dolors Montserrat | |
| 6th |  |
Soledad Murillo de la Vega | 8 June 2018 | 15 January 2020 | 586 | Carmen Montón María Luisa Carcedo |
Pedro Sánchez |
| 7th | .jpeg) |
Noelia Vera Ruiz-Herrera | 15 January 2020 | 12 October 2021 | 636 | Irene Montero | |
| 8th |  |
Ángela Rodríguez Martínez | 12 October 2021 | 5 December 2023 | 784 | ||
| 9th |  |
Aina Calvo | 5 December 2023 | 4 June 2025 | 547 | Ana Redondo García | |
| 10th | |
María Guijarro | 4 June 2025 | Incumbent | 370 | ||
References
edit- 1 2 3 Ministry for Digital Transformation and Civil Service (9 March 2024). "Real Decreto 246/2024, de 8 de marzo, por el que se desarrolla la estructura orgánica básica del Ministerio de Igualdad, y se modifica el Real Decreto 1009/2023, de 5 de diciembre, por el que se establece la estructura orgánica básica de los departamentos ministeriales". Official State Gazette (in Spanish). Retrieved 23 March 2026.
- ↑ Lourido, Mariola (2025-06-02). "María Guijarro, nueva secretaria de Estado de Igualdad". Cadena SER (in European Spanish). Retrieved 2026-03-26.