The humble potato is being put to use to tackle domestic violence in Spain, the daily El Mundo newspaper has reported.

The problem claims dozens of lives every year in Spain, but until now has remained a virtual taboo.

A women's group has struck a deal with a leading potato company to help provide support for those maltreated in the home.

Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation

UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan

The Federation of Separated and Divorced Women (FAMSD) signed an agreement with PatNatur, a distribution conglomerate.

For every three-kilo sack sold in any Spanish supermarket, six euro cents will go towards legal and psychological aid for victims.

"We are sure it'll go well, because society is growing ever more aware of this problem," the company's spokesman, Raul Jimenez, told El Mundo.

Few women dare speak out

The money will benefit some 100 women in Catalonia, where lawyer Maria Jose Varela will help them both press charges and lodge appeals.

"We hope to stop them withdrawing their complaints: it happens all the time and prevents the aggressor being punished," she explained.

Protection

One victim of violence, Carmen, 30, from Valencia, still lives in fear of violence from her husband, despite more than two years' separation and a restraining order.

"All I want is for him to leave me in peace," she told Spanish TV. "I don't eat, I don't sleep, I'm losing weight.. I just want this nightmare to end."

Carmen still lives in fear

The police are helping, but only when he is sent to prison will she feel safe to venture outside.

"Ask for protection, don't just go and hide in a reception centre," she advised other women.

"Why, as well as being victims, should we have to flee?"

Carmen hopes that by making her case public she will help other victims break their silence too.

Murders

Domestic violence is still a huge but hidden problem in Spain.

The number of women murdered by their partners rose from 47 four years ago to 58 already this year.

A government-run centre to monitor the problem began work on Tuesday, and it will examine all court rulings on maltreatment.

Montserrat Comas of the centre told Spanish radio the aim was to eradicate violence against women.

"Domestic violence really is a social scourge," she said.

"I would say that, after terrorism, it is the most serious and pressing problem in Spanish society."

BBC Monitoring, based in Caversham in southern England, selects and translates information from radio, television, press, news agencies and the Internet from 150 countries in more than 70 languages.