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[June 2008] |
PACE
committee on Equal Opportunities calls for a framework convention Strasbourg, 24 June 2008 José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), Rapporteur for PACE Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, said today, with the support of Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis, that it was overwhelmingly important for the Council of Europe to prepare a framework convention covering the severest and most widespread forms of violence against women in Europe. (more...) |
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[May 2008] |
Combating domestic violence against women: a challenge for social
development Paris, 15 May 2008 At a colloquy held today by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in the French National Assembly, Rama Yade, State Secretary responsible for Foreign Affairs and Human Rights, said that the level of progress made by any society could be gauged by the status of women in that society, and that combating domestic violence against women was not only a matter affecting the status of women but also a challenge for the whole process of social development. (more...) |
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[April 2008] |
Adoption
of the Vienna declaration in favour of a European Convention to combat
violence against women, including domestic violence Vienna, 30 April 2008 The contact parliamentarians involved in the Council of Europe's campaign to combat violence against women adopted the Vienna declaration (PDF) at the final conference of the parliamentary dimension of the campaign on 30 April in Vienna. On this occasion, they invited the Council of Europe to draw-up a framework convention to combat violence against women, including domestic violence and to involve parliamentarians and non governmental organisations in the drafting process. This instrument should take account of the specific aspects linked to equality between women and men and be designed to protect victims, punish perpetrators and prevent this human rights violation. PACE Rapporteur, Mr José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD) presented, on this occasion, the interim results of the mid-term evaluation of the campaign (PDF) to which 40 national delegations, representing 80% of European citizens, contributed. |
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Closing conference of the parliamentary dimension on 30 April 2008 in Vienna Strasbourg, 15 February 2008 The closing conference of the parliamentary dimension of the Council of Europe campaign against domestic violence will take place on 30 April 2008 in Vienna (Austria), at the invitation of the Austrian Parliament. The results of the evaluation questionnaire (PDF) will be presented on that occasion. National delegations and contact parliamentarians are invited to fill it and return it to the Secretariat by 15 March 2008. |
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Sixth
issue of the PACE Action Newsletter 14 April 2008, Strasbourg (France) The sixth issue of the PACE Action Newsletter is published. It provides practical information to the Assembly members concerning the past and future parliamentary activities carried out in the framework of the Council of Europe Campaign. |
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Tarja
Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, supports the campaign of the
Council of Europe against Domestic Violence. Helsinki, 7 April 2008 At the invitation of Jukka Gustafsson, Contact Parliamentarian for Finland, Tarja Halonen, President of the Republic of Finland, will hold the opening address of the conference dedicated to the situation of Domestic Violence against Women in Finland (PDF) on 7 April in the Parliament of Finland. (more...) |
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third regional parliamentary seminar on the campaign in the
Azores Azores, 4 April 2008 José Mendes Bota and the working group set up by the Portuguese Parliament organised its third decentralised seminar in archipelago of the Azores on 4 April 2008, (PDF in Portuguese) focusing in particular on the causes and the new forms of violence against women. |
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[March 2008] |
Parliament
of Azerbaijan held hearings on combating domestic violence against women |
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Singer Axelle Red highlights role of men in fighting domestic violence Brussels, 4 March 2008 “The majority of perpetrators of domestic violence are men, and since it is largely men who still hold positions of power in society, they have an important role to play in combating this crime,” said Belgian singer Axelle Red, introducing a Brussels lunch-debate yesterday on the role of men in fighting domestic violence. (more...) |
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[February 2008] |
The PACE action promoted at the United Nations New York, 27 February 2008 Carina Hägg, Chairperson of the Sub-Committee on violence against women, highlighted the parliamentary dimension of the Campaign at the IPU side-event on “The role of parliaments in financing for gender equality” along the Session of the UN Committee on the status of women in New-York on 27 February 2008. Carina Hägg and Swiss contact parliamentarian Doris Stump had on that occasion discussions with Yakin Ertürk, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women. |
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International Women’s Day: PACE invited to the next ‘Mardi de l’Europe’ Brussels, 4 March 2008 In the presence of the singer Axelle Red, and as part of the “Mardis de l’Europe” initiative, the Madariaga European Foundation for the College of Europe is to host a luncheon debate on 4 March, from 12 to 2 pm, at its headquarters in Brussels (87 Rue Royale), in cooperation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), on how to mobilise male parliamentarians to combat violence against women. (more...) |
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Follow-up
of Resolution 1582 (2007) : Swedish study 21 February 2008 _ Stockholm The Swedish parliament, at the initiative of Carina Hägg, contact parliamentarian, has prepared a study on the ressources allocated by public authorities to combat violence against women, in Sweden as well as in Nordic and Baltic countries. (PDF) This study follows the adoption of Resolution 1582 (2007), inviting national parliaments to "identify the financial means allocated to combat domestic violence against women over the last few years". |
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The
Austrian Delegation to the PACE was first to send back the evaluation
questionnaire. 20 February 2008 - Vienna All national delegations are invited to contribute to the evaluation questionnaire (PDF) of the parliamentary dimension of the Council of Europe Campaign by 15 March. |
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Closing conference of the parliamentary dimension on 30 April 2008 in Vienna 15 February 2008 - Strasbourg The closing conference of the parliamentary dimension of the Council of Europe campaign against domestic violence will take place on 30 April 2008 in Vienna (Austria), at the invitation of the Austrian Parliament. The results of the evaluation questionnaire (PDF) will be presented on that occasion. National delegations and contact parliamentarians are invited to fill it and return it to the Secretariat by 15 March 2008. |
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2007 Regional seminars: results on line 12 February 2008 - Strasbourg The reports of the five regional seminars organised in 2007 and the working documents available are now available on the website. |
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Violence against women and Development 5 February 2008 - Ljubljana (Slovenia) Through the impetus given by Majda Potrata, contact parliamentarian, Slovenia adopted a new Family Violence Prevention Act, (PDF) which will come into force on 26 February 2008. Ms Potrata will moreover organise on 7 March 2008 in the Slovenian Parliament an international conference dedicated to Violence against women and Development policy (PDF) in cooperation with SOS Help-line and Amnesty International. At this occasion, discussion-panels will be organised on Domestic violence, Violence against women and migration, Trafficking of women and the position of victims in the labour market. |
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With the PACE, men get involved to combat domestic violence 5 February 2008 - Strasbourg 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”. (more…) |
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[January 2008] |
The
Parliamentary Assembly of Bosnia and Herzegovina joins the Council of
Europe Campaign 31 January 2008 - Sarajevo (Bosnia and Herzegovina) "The victim [of domestic violence] is very often alone in the criminal proceedings, without judicial and psychological support, without real understanding of her rights. (more...) | |
A
new President for the Committee on Equal Opportunity 22 January 2008, Strasbourg (France) Steingrímur J. SIGFÚSSON (Iceland, UEL) was elected today Chairperson of the PACE Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men. Mr Sigfusson is also the contact parliamentarian for Iceland. The Committee elected as Vice-Chairpersons José MENDES BOTA (Portugal, EPP/CD) (contact parliamentarian for Portugal), Ingrida CIRCENE (Latvia, EPP/CD) and Anna ČURDOVÁ (Czech Republic, SOC) (contact parliamentarian for the Czech Republic). |
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SCREENING-DEBATE
of the film MUTLULUK (Bliss) 20 January 2008, Strasbourg (France) Within the framework of the Council of Europe campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic violence, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has organised the screening of the film Bliss (Mutluluk) directed by Abdullah Oguz (Turkey, 2007) (original version in Turkish with French subtitles) (more…) |
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Fifth
issue of the PACE Action Newsletter 21 January 2008, Strasbourg (France) The fifth issue of the PACE Action Newsletter is published. It provides practical information to the Assembly members concerning the past and future parliamentary activities carried out in the framework of the Council of Europe Campaign. |
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“An
international or European treaty is needed for the protection of women
against violence”- viewpoint from Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for
Human Rights 7 January 2008, Strasbourg (France) During my country visits I often discuss this issue with leading politicians, most of them men. Some have grasped its importance but others display an unfortunate complacency. They have argued that “there is no need to discuss this in our country”. (more...) |
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[December 2007] |
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[November 2007]
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«
To Love Someone » on air in the Swedish Parliament 14 November 2007, Stockholm (Sweden) The Committee on Cultural Affairs of the Swedish Parliament will organise on 14 November at 5 pm the screening of Ake Sandgren’s last movie « Den Man älskar » (« To Love Someone ») followed by a debate on the theme “Can we forgive the unforgivable?” with the participation of the director, the main actress and the producer of the movie. This projection is organised in the framework of the Council of Europe Campaign on Domestic violence against women, following the initiative of Siv Holma, Chairperson of the on Cultural Affairs and Cecilia Wikström, Vice Chairperson of the Committee. |
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Field visit and second regional parliamentary seminar of the Portuguese “Stop Domestic Violence” Working Group
Faro, 12 November 2007 The parliamentary working group on the “Stop Domestic Violence” campaign, chaired by José Mendes Bota, the contact parliamentarian for Portugal, held a second regional seminar in Faro, attended by (more…) |
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[October 2007]
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Sweden
adopted the Action Plan for Swedish Agency for International Development
Cooperation’s Work Against Gender-Based Violence (2008–2010) 26 October 2007 – Stockholm (Sweden) Carina Hägg, contact parliamentarian for Sweden, contributed to the preparation of the action plan released by the Swedish Agency for International co-operation (SIDA) which seeks to "contribute to a reduction of gender-based violence and to promote the rights and the economic and political empowerment of those subject to gender-based violence -mainly women and girls- in Sida's partner countries and in humanitarian assistance". Special attention will be paid to combating female genital mutilation, violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, sexual abuse in conflict and post-conflict situation, domestic violence and violence in the name of honour. |
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Parliamentary
Regional meeting in the Finnish Parliament 10 October 2007 - Helsinki (Finland) The meeting of Regional group A of the contact parliamentarians involved in the Council of Europe Campaign Stop domestic violence against women was held on 10 October 2007 in the national parliament of Finland in Helsinki. The meeting aims to promote seven key measures to be implemented by national parliaments, as proposed Mr Mendes Bota’s report “Parliaments united in combating domestic violence against women”: mid-term assessment of the Campaign. The meeting will be chaired by Ms Hägg, regional coordinator for group A and contact parliamentarian for Sweden. (Agenda) |
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Governmental Representatives highlight progress and loopholes in the
national legislation |
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Austrian
legislation presented to parliamentarians 16 October 2007 - Vienna (Austria) Opening the 3rd regional seminar (Regional Group E) organised by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) as part of the "Stop domestic violence against women" campaign, Barbara Prammer, Speaker of the Austrian Parliament (Nationalrat) said: "Ten years after Austria passed a pioneering law in Europe to protect women against violence, we must persist in our efforts to overcome prejudices and fixed mentalities. We must not let ourselves be discouraged. Women and girls all over Europe are entitled to a life without violence and without fear of it; that is part and parcel of human rights". |
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Regional
groups C and F met in Strasbourg 5 October 2007 - Strasbourg (France) The meeting of Regional groups C and F of the contact parliamentarians involved in the Council of Europe Campaign Stop domestic violence against women was held on 5 October 2007 during the session of the Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg (France). The meeting aims to promote seven key measures to be implemented by national parliaments, as proposed Mr Mendes Bota’s report “Parliaments united in combating domestic violence against women”: mid-term assessment of the Campaign. The meeting will be chaired by Ms Quintanilla, PPE, regional coordinator for group C and contact parliamentarian for Spain. |
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The Assembly unanimously adopted Mr Mendes Bota's
report |
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Cartoon
exhibition 1 October 2007 - Strasbourg (France) On the occasion of the PACE part-Session in Strasbourg (1-5 October 2007), Ms Quintanilla, contact parliamentarian for Spain, will propose a cartoon exhibition entitled "Por una vida sin malos tratos". This exhibition has been provided by the Ministry of Work and Social Affairs of Spain on the Campaign information stand, which will inform the PACE members of the latest developments of the Campaign. |
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Fourth
issue of the PACE Action Newsletter |
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[September 2007] |
Palilula/Belgrade, 21 September 2007 “Ms Gordana Čomić, contact parliamentarian for Serbia, took part in the official opening of the Office for gender equality, psycho-social and legal aid for the victims of violence in the municipality of Palilula, in presence of Danilo Basic, President of the Palilula municipality and Ms. Snezana Lakicevic-Stojacic, President of the Government's Gender Equality council. On this occasion, the Serbian version of the exhibition "Break the silence on domestic violence", originally shown at Sava Center in Belgrade with the support of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, was displayed. This exhibition had been inaugurated in May 2007 by the the Parliament of Serbia and the Parliamentary Assembly . This exhibition raised a lot of interest amongst gender activists, NGOs, Centres for social welfare and police forces. The exhibition is, therefore, due to be displayed in other municipalities in Belgrade and in Serbia, with the support of the Council of Europe Office in Belgrade. |
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Strasbourg, 11 September 2007 “Anita Roddick was a woman committed to human rights and the dignity of women,” said Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly (PACE) Rapporteur José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD) on hearing news of the Body Shop founder’s death. “Her active support for the drive to curb violence against women was an example to us all and shows that it is up to each one of us, including those in the business sphere, to exercise our personal responsibility in raising public awareness and condemning violence against women.” Mr Mendes Bota will present a report on the subject to PACE in October 2007. The Council of Europe has been conducting a pan-European campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic violence, since November 2006. |
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[July 2007]
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Lisbon, 5 July 2007 Improve data collection to better fight against domestic violence Mr Mendes Bota, contact parliamentarian for Portugal and PACE Rapporteur on “Parliaments united in combating domestic violence against women”: mid-term assessment, participated in a Regional seminar on data collection as a prerequisite for effective policies to combat violence against women. (interview) (more ...) |
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Strasbourg,
28 June 2007 More than 60 participants came in Strasbourg to the conference and debate on "the contribution of the Portuguese Parliament to the Council of Europe Campaign : the example of the fight against domestic violence against women", moderated by Mr José Mendes Bota, contact parliamentarian of Portugal, in the presence of Ambassador Américo Madeira Bárbara, Permanent Representative of Portugal to the Council of Europe. |
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[June 2007] |
Online
decl@ration - 27 June 2007 - Parliamentarians of Europe mobilise to combat domestic violence against women More than 100 Members of the Parliamentary Assembly have committed themselves to supporting the Council of Europe Campaign "stop domestic violence against women Parlementarians,join them ! and sign the online declaration to combat domestic violence against women.(link to the declaration) |
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[May 2007] |
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[April 2007] |
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[March 2007] |
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[February 2007] |
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[January 2007] |
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23 January 2007, Strasbourg (France) "Parliamentarians and the media: Which possible co-operation to support the Council of Europe Campaign ?" The Assembly proposed the projection of the Mr Hubert Sauper's documentary “Seules avec nos histoires” (Swiss, 2001), in partnership with ARTE | ||
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[December 2006] |
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[November 2006] |
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[October 2006] |
Representatives of national parliaments from across Greater Europe today signalled their support for the “white ribbon” campaign to combat violence against women ahead of a major Europe-wide governmental and parliamentary campaign on this theme to be launched in Madrid on November 27. | |
The contact parliamentarians appointed by the national parliaments will meet to prepare and coordinate the launch and implementation | ||
Ms
Cliveti, Rapporteur on "Parliaments united in combating domestic violence
against women" called on non governmental organisations (NGOs) to support the
Council of Europe campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic
violence, and to back initiatives of national parliaments of Council of Europe
member states. "We, parliamentarians, need your experience in the field", stated
Ms Cliveti at the meeting of the gender equality grouping of the INGO enjoying
participatory status with the Council of Europe, adding that NGOs would continue
to be associated with the implementation of the parliamentary dimension of the
campaign. A consultation meeting between European NGOs active in the fight against
domestic violence and the Bureaux of the Assembly Equality Committee and its
Sub-Committee on violence against women will be organised on 18 October, prior
to the co-ordination meeting of the contact parliamentarians foreseen the following
day |
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The graphic line of the Council of Europe campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic violence, was presented at the meeting of the committee on equal opportunities for women and men. A flyer is now available |
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[September 2006] |
The contact parliamentarians appointed by the national parliaments will meet in Strasbourg on 19 October 2006 to prepare and coordinate the launch and implementation of the parliamentary dimension of the Council of Europe campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic violence (2006-2008). Representatives of the Council of Europe Task Force, of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe and representatives of non governmental organisations working at European level to combat domestic violence will discuss their possible involvement in the national parliaments' initiatives to implement the campaign | |
[June 2006] |
The Parliamentary
Assembly adopted Resolution 1512 (2006) and Recommendation 1759 (2006) on "Parliaments
united in combating domestic violence against women". The 46 national parliaments
as well as the parliaments with observer status to the Assembly are invited
to symbolically join forces at midday on 24 November to condemn domestic violence
against women, call for its eradication to be made a political priority at the
highest level and propose a programme of parliamentary activities for the period
November 2006 - March 2008
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Ms Cliveti, Rapporteur on "Parliaments united in combating domestic violence against women" welcomes the adoption by the Committee of Ministers of the blueprint for the Council of Europe Campaign to combat violence against women, including domestic violence. The Parliamentary Assembly will be responsible for implementing the parliamentary dimension of this campaign | ||
Ms Yakin Ertürk, UN Special Rapporteur on violence against women, will address the Parliamentary Assembly on 28 June 2006 on the occasion of the debate on Ms Cliveti's report "Parliaments united in combating domestic violence against women" on the issue "combating domestic violence against women : a challenge for European democracies". She will also be the keynote speaker at the 3rd meeting of women members of the Parliamentary Assembly (27 June, 19:00) and will take part in an exchange of views with the members of the committee on equal opportunities for women and men on 28 June at 14:00. | ||
[May 2006] |
The Committee on equal opportunities for women and men adopts Ms Cliveti’s draft report on “Parliaments united in combating domestic violence” [link to the report] | |
[March 2006] |
The
minutes of the hearing organised at the invitation of the Swedish Parliament
on the preparation of the Assembly action “Parliaments united in combating domestic
violence against women” are now available. [link to the Minutes] |
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