Breaking the silence

“Violence against women is a structural and widespread problem throughout Europe. This why our commitment as individuals, the commitment of the States and of Europe as a whole cannot be confined to the special date of November 25”. Eva-Britt Svensson, the President of the Commission for Equal Opportunities of the European Parliament, claimed that the mobilization that marked the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women should continue all year round. To this regard, the EP assembly adopted a resolution during the plenary session of November 23-26. A cultural problem. “Women’s lives and participation in social, economic, political and economic life is being limited by the persistence of different forms of violence against them. Violence against women is not only a problem of public health, but also a matter of inequality between women and men”. Ms Svensson, along with numerous MEPs from different countries has been engaged for a long time in a battle to counter violence against women, young and adult, notably domestic violence, by ensuring “full and authentic” protection. “The problem is closely linked to culture”, said the Swedish MEP. It’s time to break the silence. In concrete terms, there is the need for national plans, appropriate legislation, and educational measures addressed to the youth”. Svensson recalled that in her country “legislation on this issue has undergone major progress in recent years. Moreover, if women are aware that the law is on their side, that their rights are defended, then they will have the courage to report abuse on the workplace, at home or on the street”.Impressive figures. The tenth Day, celebrated November 25 in the European Parliament, occasioned the presentation of the survey titled “Shedding light on violence” accompanied by a video co-produced by the EU and by the Council of Europe. The survey, commissioned by the Italian vice-president of the European Parliament Roberta Angelilli, states, “in Europe, 20 to 25% of women have suffered physical abuse at least once in their lifetime”. And sexual or psychological forms of violence are just as frequent. Indeed, as much as “95% of such abuse takes place at home, within the family”. “”The high rates of abuse committed by ex partners show that women are not appropriately protected, even when they manage to end a violent relationship”. The survey, (which, according to its authors was hampered by the lack of certain and comparable data regarding all of Europe) highlights the consequence of the violence which include depression, anxiety, suicidal drives, self-harm “difficult relations with one’s children”, emotional blocks, aggressiveness… The fear, the connivances… The survey presented in Strasbourg acknowledges, “Only 18% of women considers the violence they suffered as a crime” punished by the law. “Fear induces silence and thus violence persists in time”, also because of family and social connivances. The resolution envisages the request of legislation across EU States along with “subsidies and programs directed to volunteer associations that provide” shelter to abused women, a strategic EU action plan and free legal advice. Accordingly, “sexual-related crime must be regulated by law”, introducing legislation against domestic violence in marriage, stalking and female genital mutilation, that has already been adopted in several countries. Spain’s EU-rotating presidency, due to take office in the first semester of 2010, has made known that it will hasten the enforcement of the European Institute for Gender Equality launched by the EU in 2006 based in Vilnius (Lithuania) but not active yet. The Institute “will be tasked with helping EU institutions and its Member States to promote gender equality in EU policies and combat gender-based discrimination”.The commitment of the Council of Europe. The Council of Europe – the other body with seat in Strasbourg, represented by 47 European countries – is the international body that most endeavoured to ensure that all forms of violence against women be recognised as a crime by legal systems, promoting public-awareness campaigns. CoE vice-Secretary Maud de Boer, declared: “The Member States of the Council of Europe are obliged to adopt zero-tolerance policies. The Convention for the Prevention of Violence against Women, the protection of the victims and the penal accountability of sexual offenders will be an important step in the establishment of a culture of respect and equality”.