With the PACE, men get involved to combat domestic violence
Men, especially male MPs, who account for some 80% of Europe’s
parliamentarians, have a crucial role to play in efforts to combat
domestic violence against women, rectify imbalances in power
relationships and bring about changes in mentalities.
On 25 November
2007, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the
PACE launched a new pan-European activity entitled “Men Get Involved to Combat
Domestic Violence”.
The PACE Standing Committee adopted a declaration "Men Get
involved" in Bratislava on 23 November 2007.
Since November, several parliaments have responded favourably to this
initiative.
- In Albania, Austria and Portugal, petitions on the key role of
male parliamentarians have been launched.
- Exhibitions have been staged in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria
and Romania.
- Members of parliament in France, Moldova and Poland
organised cultural events.
- In Albania, Bulgaria, Ireland, Portugal, Romania, Spain,
Sweden and the United Kingdom, meetings have been held with civil
society organisations.
- In “the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia”, a public hearing
has been held.
Groups of male parliamentarians committed to combating domestic violence have
already been set up in the Albanian, Andorran, Portuguese and Swedish
Parliaments.
Discussions will continue on 4 March 2008 in Brussels (see page 3) and in the
PACE, where Mr Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD) and several of his colleagues have
tabled a motion for a resolution entitled “Involving men to achieve gender
equality”.