Join the call for a European Year to end violence against women!

The European Women’s Lobby (EWL) has initiated a broad European advocacy movement, gathering NGOs and decision-makers, lobbying for comprehensive EU action on violence against women and for a European Year on combating and preventing violence against women.

Why a European Year to end violence against women?

A European Year is the best way to draw attention to the spread phenomenon of violence against women and its impacts on society. Through the establishment of such year, EU and national institutions raise awareness on the issue and renew their political commitment to end violence against women. This is the perfect opportunity to propose concrete measures together with awareness activities and a media campaign: by coupling the EU Year and an EU comprehensive policy framework to end violence against women, the EU would demonstrate its genuine commitment to take the lead towards a Europe free from all forms of violence against women.

A recurrent demand of the European Parliament

Already in 2009, the European Parliament had asked the European Commission to declare, within the next five years, a ‘European Year on Zero Tolerance of Violence against Women’, in a written declaration adopted in April. In October 2010, more than half of the MEPs adopted a new written declaration on establishing a European Year of Combating Violence against Women. Such call for a European Year has been repeatedly demanded in many EP resolutions and reports dealing with women’s rights and equality between women and men over the last two years. It’s now time to act and use the opportunity of the EC’s commitment to deliver a strategy, and have a concrete comprehensive and effective EU action aiming at ending violence against women through legislative and awareness activities.

No EU legislation so far on violence against women!

To date, the EU has no binding legislation in place to deal with this most pervasive human rights abuse within its borders. The last few years have nevertheless witnessed an increased political willingness to change this, with multiple calls from the European Parliament for action, the prioritisation of the issue by the Trio Presidency, Council Conclusions mandating the European Commission to devise a Strategy on violence against women and consider legal instruments, and numerous commitments to this effect by the EU executive. In parallel, the European Fundamental Rights Agency and European Institute for Gender Equality have launched initiatives to gather much needed comparable European data on the issue, and the Daphne Programme has built up a solid foundation of expertise and good practices throughout the Union in the prevention of violence against women.

Violence against women is a pervasive human rights violation

Violence against women is a human rights issue. It affects approximately 45% of all women across Europe. An estimated one-fifth of women in the EU suffer from violence within the home and more than one in ten women is a victim of sexual violence involving the use of force: in the UK, 80 000 women experience rape or attempted rape; in France, one woman is killed every three days by her partner. Domestic violence alone costs EU Member States as much as 16 billion Euros every year – or one million Euros every half hour. The annual budgets of EU Member States for prevention programmes of violence against women are 1000 times less than this figure, and this despite consistent Euro-barometer survey results highlighting widespread concern for the prevalence and scope of violence against women, including within the family. Violence against women is a political issue, both cause and consequence of inequality between women and men. In addition to the direct impacts on individuals and the aggregate social costs, male violence against women shapes women’s place in society: their access to employment and education, integration into social and cultural activities, economic independence, participation in public and political life and decision-making, health and relations with men. At the same time, inequality between women and men creates the conditions for violence against women and legitimises it.

The urgency of an EU Year and action to end violence against women: support the call!

The time is therefore ripe for a comprehensive approach to ending violence against women within the EU’s borders and for a European Commission commitment to elaborate an EU policy framework on combating violence against women by 2012. Such action has to be accompanied by a clear public message that violence against women is a pervasive violation of women’s rights, through the establishment a European Year on combating and preventing violence against women. Join our coalition and advocate for EU action to end violence against women now and a European Year dedicated to this goal!

Members of the European Parliament

Catherine Stihler, UK, S&D
Mary Honeyball, UK, S&D
Mikael Gustafsson, Sweden, GUE
Ilda Figueiredo, Portugal, GUE
Marije Cornelissen, the Netherlands, Greens
Antonyia Parvanova, Bulgaria, ALDE
Britta Thomsen, Denmark, S&D
Marc Tarabella, Belgium, S&D
Mariya Nedelcheva, Bulgaria, EPP
Marian Harkin, Ireland, ALDE
Gay Mitchell, Ireland, EPP
Nessa Childers, Ireland, S&D
Phil Prendergast, Ireland, S&D
Mairead McGuinness, Ireland, EPP
Kartika Liotard, the Nertherlands, GUE
Liam Aylward, Ireland, ALDE
Ana Gomes, Portugal, S&D
Riikka Manner, Finland, ALDE
Ivailo Kalfin, Bulgaria, S&D
Inês Zuber, Portugal, GUE
Iratxe García Pérez, Spain, S&D
Emer Costello, Ireland, S&D

Other European decision-makers

Anna Karamanou , PES Women Vice-President , MEP Former, Greece

National decision-makers

Agnieszka Grzybek , Polish Green Party, Poland
Kristin Astgeirsdottir, Center of Gender Equality (Jafnréttisstofa), Iceland
Nataliya Kravtsova, Chief Officer of the Ministry of Economics, Russia
Cllr Suzanne Richards, Councillor on Manchester City Council, UK
Marianne Bruun, Chairman on Committee of Gender Equality , Social Democratic Party DK, Denmark
Sara Slana, Senior Adviser on the Office for Equal Opportunities, Slovenia
Paula Sanchez Martín, Adviser of the Valencian Regional President, Valencia Regional Government, Spain
Shqipe Krasniqi, Executive Director of Agency for Gender Equality – Government, Kosovo
Dimitra Kogidou, Dean of the Faculty of Education, Thessaloniki, Greece
Ana Couto, MP of the Socialist Parliamentary Group, Portugal

Signatory European and International Organisations

Social Platform – www.socialplatform.org – The Platform of European Social NGOs (Social Platform) is the alliance of representative European federations and networks of non-governmental organisations active in the social sector. The members of Social Platform represent thousands of organisations, associations and voluntary groups at local, regional, national and European level representing the interests of a wide range of civil society.
AGE Platform Europe – www.age-platform.org
COFACE – The Confederation of Family Organisations in the European Union – www.coface-eu.org
IPPF European Network – International Planned Parenthood Federation – www.ippfen.org
Mental Health Europe – www.mhe-sme.org
PICUM – Platform for International Cooperation on Undocumented Migrants – www.picum.org
EAPN – European Anti-Poverty Network – www.eapn.org
European Public Health Alliance (EPHA) – www.epha.org
Women’s Networking Hub – www.womensnetworkinghub.com
Fédération Internationale des Femmes des Carrières Juridiques – www.fifcj-ifwlc.net
FIDH – Fédération Internationale des Ligues des Droits de l’Homme – www.fidh.org
Zonta International – www.zonta.org
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom – www.wilpfinternational.org
European Forum of Muslim Women – www.efomw.eu
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts – WAGGGS – www.wagggsworld.org
Eurochild – www.eurochild.org
PEP International Foundation – www.pepinternational.nl
White Ribbon Campaign – www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk
World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (Europe Region) – www.europe.wagggsworld.org
Transgender Europe – TGEU – www.tgeu.org
United Women – www.unitedwomenbl.org
World Mission for Peace & Development
European Organization of Iranian Refugees – www.eoir.eu
WAVE Network & European Info Centre Against Violence – www.wave-network.org
Soroptimist International – www.soroptimistinternationaleurope.org
Soroptimist International of Europe – www.soroptimisteurope.org
Plate Forme Migrants et Citoyenneté Européenne, www.pmc-europe.info
Tulip Project – http://www.europacheverra.eu
ERIO – European Roma Information Office – www.erionet.eu
European Disability Forum (EDF) – www.edf-feph.org
ILGA Europe (European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans and Intersex Association) – http://www.ilga-europe.org/

Signatory National Organisations

Swedish Women’s Lobby, Sweden -http://www.sverigeskvinnolobby.se/
Femmes en Détresse, Luxembourg – www.fed.lu
Regards de femmes, France – www.regardsdefemmes.fr
Center for Community Development and Education (CCDE), Indonesia – www.ccde.or.id
Lesbian for Equality, Greece
Scottish TUC , UK – www.stuc.org.uk
Action Works Nepal, www.actionworksnepal.org
ASERB asbl Association des Equatoriens résidents a Bruxelles, Belgium
Association for Art and Culture CRVENA, Bosnia and Herzegovina – www.crvena.ba
Groupement belge de la Porte ouverte pour la défense économique de la travailleuse, Belgium www.porteouverte.be
Nederlandstalige Vrouwenraad, Belgium – www.vrouwenraad.be
Soroptimist International Greek Union , Greece- www.soroptimist.gr
ADAPT Kerry Limited, Ireland – www.kerryrefuge.com
Amazone, Belgium – www.amazone.be
Assotiation Women Word Iqualite, Spain
Bosnia and Herzegovina Women’s Association in Sweden , Sweden – www.bhkrf.se
Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation , Bulgaria – www.bgrf.org
Center Women and Modern World , Azerbaijan – www.womenmw-az.org
Citizens Information Board, Ireland – www.citizensinformation.ie
Combating Sexual and Gender Based Violence, Serbia – http://gendernet.rs/index.php
Islamic Youth Forum, Macedonia – www.fri.org.mk
Ida Struga, Macedonia – www.ldastruga.org
Comitato per la promozione e protezione dei diritti umani, Italy – www.comitatodirittiumani.net
Congress of Women / Kongres Kobiet, Poland
Asociatia Euromediu si Dezvoltare Sociala, Italy
Feministische Partei DIE FRAUEN, Germany – www.feministischepartei.de
Femmes Prévoyantes Socialistes, Belgium – www.femmesprevoyantes.be
Association LIFE onlus, Italy – www.lifeonlus.org
Soroptimist International France, France – www.soroptimist.asso.fr
Association pour le développement et la promotion des droits humains, Mauritania
Paola Escamilla Image Consulting, Mexico – www.paolaescamilla.com
Eng Aja Eze Foundation, Nigeria – www.engajaezefoundation.com
NGO Women Safety House Nora, Serbia
Mediawatch, USA- www.mediawatch.com
Institute Circle, Slovenia – www.zavod-krog.si
Islamic Youth Forum, Macedonia – www.fri.org.mk
Ligue Française de la Femme Musulmane, France – www.lffm.org
Terre des Femmes Schweiz, Switzerland – www.terre-des-femmes.ch
Netherlands Council of Women, Netherlands – www.nederlandsevrouwenraad.nl
Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights, Portugal – www.plataformamulheres.org.pt
Associação de Mulheres Contra a Violência – AMCV -, Portugal www.amcv.org.pt
Asociación de Mujeres Musulmanas ANNUR, Spain
Human Forum for Women’s Rights, Jordan
UK Section Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom – www.wilpfinternational.org
Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (Leicester Branch) – www.leicesterwilpf.wordpress.com
Network of East West Women, Poland – www.neww.eu
Rural Women’s Network Nepal (RUWON Nepal)
Soroptimist International Greek Union, Greece – www.soroptimist.gr
Soroptimist International of Bosphorus, Turkey
Nozizwe Vzw, Congo
Antalya Centre de Solidarité et Conseil de Femme, Turkey
White Ribbon Campaign, UK – www.whiteribboncampaign.co.uk
United Women, Bosnia and Herzegovina – www.unitedwomenbl.org
Association LIFE onlus, Italy – http://www.lifeonlus.org
EUDIFITALIA , Italy – www.eudifitalia.it
Blijf Groep en NRV (Nederlandse Vrouwen Raad), Netherlands – www.nvr.nl, www.blijfgroep.nl
Scottish Women’s Aid, UK – www.scottishwomensaid.org.uk
Gender Equality Unit of Youth Action , Northern Ireland – www.facebook.com/pages/Gender-Equality-Unit-YANI/202164693135357
Center for Research Cooperation and Development – CRCD-, Albania – www.crcd.org.al
DESIDE, Macedonia
Le collectif des femmes africaines du Hainaut, Belgium – www.cfah.be
Association Le Monde à Travers un Regard, France – www.lemondeatraversunregard.org
Fédération générale CFDT des mines et de la métallurgie, France
FIRE-FeC Général Asbl – Force, Interculturalité, Renforcement de l’Empowerment de la Femme d’origine Congolaise en Général, Congo
AVCAL (Action pour les victimes de la violence politique en l’Amérique Latine), Belgium
International Alliance of Women/Alliance Internationale des Femmes – www.womenalliance.org
Bosnia and Herzegovina Women – http://www.bhkrf.se
Social Welfare & Community Development Society (SWCDS), Pakistan

Signatory Individuals

Sophie Lainé, European Policy Advisor of Women Rough Sleepers (Daphne III funded initiative)
Pierrette Pape, EWL Policy Officer and Project Coordinator
Vânia Duarte
Benedetta Pagotto
Dominika Strzyz
Michele Levoy, PICUM
Madalena Madeira
Mary Van Dievel, Mental Health Europe
Azghoud loubna
Shahida Choudhry, Womens Networking Hub
Manderscheid Karin, Femmes en Détresse asbl Luxembourg
Sireyjol Anne, Fédération Internationale des Femmes des Carriéres Juridiques
Dusanka Zutic, Age platform Europe Serbia
Malgorzata Danicka
Hugrun R. Hjaltadottir, Centre for Gender Equaltiy
Malgorzata Danicka, Porozumienie Kobiet 8 Marca
Pawe? Szczepura
Elzbieta Smolenska
Muhammad khichi, Social Welfare & Community Development Society (SWCDS)
Tabrani Yunis, Center for Community Development and Education (CCDE)
Evangelia Vlami, Lesbian for Equality
Dhruba Prasad Ghimire , Rural Women’s Network Nepal (RUWON Nepal)
Merope Kapsali
Ann Henderson, Scottish TUC
Anna Dryja?ska, Congress of Women / Kongres Kobiet
Boguslawa Durajska
Cplm Dempsey, Violence Against Women 365 International Poster Exhibition
Iza Desperak, Informal Gender Lodz group
Riet De Baets, Zonta International
Alicia Masia Moreno
Vivien Green
Radha Paudel, Action Works Nepal
Nieves González Ramón
Carolina Albuerne Rodriguez
Christina Koumi, Officer/Teacher
Danijela Dugandzic Zivanovic, Directress of Association for Art and Culture CRVENA
Veronika Jones
Kate Boyle, Information executive of Citizens Information Board
Marta Martínez
Leen Scheerlinck, Director of Nederlandstalige Vrouwenraad
Annemoon van Noorden, Hulpverlener of VieJa Utrecht
Marta Pinto, Policy Officer of ERIO – European Roma Information Office
Georgia Tsaklanganos, Civil liberties adviser for the Greens/EFA group in the EP
Francesca de Paula, Porject Manager of Formaper
Virginia Lopez Calvo, Coordinator of Roj Women’s Association
Christina Grimme
Elisabetta coscia, Trainee Amazone
Rolf Stuber
Marika Loughlin, Student of Sociology
Luis Pombo
Lorraine Mirham, UK International Board Member WILPF
Anna Fisher
Mary Alys, Branch Contact of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (Leicester Branch)
Antonia Sani, President italien Section of Womens International League for Peace and Freedom
Martin Witlake
Helen Kay, UK Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom – Scottish branch
Lyda Verstegen, President of the International Alliance of Women
Annamarie Foley, General Manager of ADAPT Kerry Limited
Roisin Robertson, Hon. Secretary of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
Denise Contini, WILPF Member
Ana Puy, Associate professor of social Psychology and Head of the Gender Equaility Office at University of La Laguna (Tenerife, Spain)
Vesna Jaric, Gender Advisor of Combating Sexual and Gender Based Violence
Leroy Liliane, Chargée d’etude of Femmes Prévoyantes Socialistes
Raffaela Donnini
Conny Bergé, Project Coordinator of PEP International Foundation
Jessica Burnham, Women’s Empowerment Specialist of Worldwide Organization for Women
Lene Pind, Secretary General of International Alliance of Women
Sabine Scherbaum, Party leader of Feministische Partei DIE FRAUEN
Jana Hainsworth, Secretary General of Eurochild
Chris Green, Director of White Ribbon Campaign
Rosemary Hindle, Development Executive (External Relations) of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (Europe Region)
Marisa Figueiredo, Journalist
Emina Hadzic, Director of Institute Circle
Sophie Crowe
Christina Pantzou, Journalist
Malgorzata Tarasiewicz, Director of Network of East West Women
Emina Cejvan, President of Bosnia and Herzegovina Women
lorraine Bowler
Iliana Balabanova-Stoicheva, PR and Project Coordinator of Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation
Wiebke Doering, Co-Director of Terre Des Femmes Schweiz
Roselyne Bourgon
Hela Khomsi, President of Ligue Française de la Femme Musulmane
Barbara Terenzi, Coordinator of Comitato per la promozione e protezione dei diritti umani
Sudaba Shiraliyeva, Director of Center Women and Modern World
Haxhije Ajvazi , Chairwomen of a branch of Islamic Youth Forum Macedonia
Aslihan Tekin
Boboc mioara, Secretary of Forum of Muslim Women from Romania
Ben Hassine Cherifa, Asociación de Mujeres Musulmanas ANNUR
Lengema Feza
Naredo Covadonga, Expert violence against women of Assotation Women Word Iqualite
Jasminka Popovska, Executive Director of CSO Local Development Agency, Struga, Macedonia
Selma Acuner , NGO member of KADER
Richard Koehler, Co-chair of Transgender Europe – TGEU
Marcela Bratosin, Asociatia Euromediu si Dezvoltare Sociala
Helena Clark, Community Development worker of Kerry Travellers development Project
Tanja Noponen
Christine Hirtl, Project manager of Women´s Health Center
Roberta Crescenzo
Suzannah Young
Madge O’Callaghan
Natalija Petric, Legal advisor of United Women
Pia Nyman, Political Secretary
Maria Thorsnes
Carolina Garcia
Jacqui O’Riordan
Marisa Iannucci, Association LIFE onlus
Ann J. Simonton, Coordinator of Non profit of Media Watch
Sarah de Hovre, Consultant Human Rights and Gender
Marie-Hélène Franjou, Pediatrician
Sharon Hickey
Gaelle Sundelin, Volunteer of Serve the City
Christine Dagain, Vice-President of Soroptimist International
Sylvie Merle
Daphne Bland
Eveline Houg
Núria Francolí, Research officer
Tom Rottinghuis
Tina Koskinen
Henrik Andersson
Hawa Sidibe, President of Association Pour Le Développement et de la Promotion des Droits Humains
Jolien Fleerackers
Greetje Van der Veer
Consorcia de Leon Scholtz, Founder President of World Mission for Peace & Development
Andrea Tauber, Project Manager
Isabelle George, University Professor
Dessart Delphine, Social Worker
Dulce Correia, School Teacher
Dora Tsioli Artemi, Business Director
Fabian Dalma, FEANTSA
Magdalena Garczynska, Technical Manager
Vesna Sekulik, President of the NGO Women Safety House Nora
Henk Pietersma, National, all round ICT manager
Anita Myfanwy
Ana Kandi, Member of League of Social-democrats of Vojvodina, Serbia
Karin Petersson
Sandra Naaf, Researcher of Istituto per la Richerca Sociale
Maria Evangelidou
Iulia Pascu
Pinelopi Kouloglou, MA student
Luisa Zappella, President of EUDIFITALIA
Eva Valentova, Expert for International Cooperation of Association for Integration and Migration
Tapuwa Bridget Makande, President and Founder of Nozizwe vzw
Roselyne Parker
Aleid Van Den Brink, Directeur-bestuurder en dutch member of the EWL Observatory on Violence against Women, Blijf Groep en NRV (Nederlandse Vrouwen Raad)
Lily Greenan, Executive Director of Scottish Women’s Aid
Anna Vouyoukas ,Social scientist – board member of national NGO of DIOTIMA, Centre for Research on Women’s Issues
Brigitte Triems, EWL President
Nancy McLennan
Lucia Cucciarelli, President of an Association of active citizenship, Tulip Project
Anna Reymondeaux, Student
Giovanni Fiorella, Writter
Louise Deumer, Board Member of IAW International Alliance of Women
Caroline Adomo, Attachée Parlementaire – Sénat
Francoise Morvan, Vice presidente de la Coordination française pour le Lobby européen des femmes
Pauline Leroyer, Stagiaire-Etudiante en droit
Lea Bages, student
Cécile Werey, Etudiante
Can Korkut, Etudiante en droit
Joan Ribi, Director of International Institute for Gender Studies, Malta
Wiebcke Doering, Co-Director of Terre de Femmes Schweiz
Sophie Lainé, European Policy Advisor of Women Rough Sleepers (Daphne III funded initiative)
Dhruba Prasad Ghimire, Rural Women’s Network Nepal (RUWON ), Nepal
Jacqueline Cawston, Senior Business Development Manager of Serious Games Institute, England
Gerda In’tVeld-Koelman, Senior Citizen of the WMO-adviesgroep The Hague, Netherlands
Eva Fager, Vice-President of EWL
Jonathan Deschamps, Président d’association
Altamira Guelbenzu, student lawyer
Marie-Christine Exsteyl, Conseillère égalité FOREM; vice-présidente de P.O.
Lillian Zellou, President of Soroptimist International Greek Union
Lamis Nasser, President of Human Forum for Women’s Rights
Eze Ugoji, Advocacy of Eng Aja Eze Foundation
Francisco Javier García Checa
Linda Brockett
Line Boisdur
Pilar Gonzalez Retuerto
Rose-Marie Ruiter
Yari Esmail, Director of European Organization of Iranian Refugees
Gunnel Perly Svedberg, National Trafficking Coordinator, Reception Unit of Swedish Migrationboard
Omar Faruque Chowdhury, Migration of Ovibashi karmi unnayan Program (OKUP)
Michie Val, to raise awareness of and advocate on behalf of female victims of modern day slavery, Soroptimist International (Yorkshire)
Ana Costa
Tjasa Bertoncelj
Filedt Kok-Weimar Tonny Louise, Chaiman of the International Advisory Committee of the Netherlands Council of Women and EWLBoard member of Netherlands Council of Women
Eliane Lagasse, President Soroptimist International of Europe
Alexandra Silva , EWL Board member, Portuguese Platform for Women’s Rights
Bea Rabe , SI/E Representative to the EWL/LEF, Soroptimist International of Europe
Margarida Medina Martins, Board Member of Associação de Mulheres Contra a Violência – AMCV
Raffaella Bianchi, Assistant Professor in Political Science of Zirve University
Matei Miruna
Gulriz Ozyildirim, Soroptimist International of Bosphorus
Vincent Soubeyran
Madlina Puka, Executive Director of Center for Research Cooperation and Development – CRCD- ALBANIA
Helene Guerin
Pernici Elodie
Afërdita Haxhijaha Imeri of DESIDE
Camila Spadavecchia
Eva Fager, Vice-president of EWL
Myriam Chuquin , ASERB ABSL Asociation des Equatoriens residents a Bruxelles
Claudine Tockert
Michele Vianes , Regards de femmes
Elodie Lemoigne
Dorsaf Ben Dhiab, Trésorière/responsable PR of European Forum Of Muslim Women/Forum Européen des Femmes musulmanes
Walter Censi, Fonctionnaire of the Commission européenne
Nathalie Yates, student
Jorge Mejía Diez
Xavier Mondon
Pierre Courbe
Michele Fort
Nadine Andre
Marie Duffort
Samir Djaiz, Secrétaire Général of Plate Forme Migrants et Citoyenneté Européenn
Laetitia Martig-Deces
Linda Mancecau
Gülser Öztunali Kayir, Enseignante Prof.Dr. of Antalya Centre de Solidarite et Conseil de Femme
Marjory Y.L.
Eugenia Carrara, Spécialiste en questions de Génre, FLACSO
Annette Ntignoi , Présidente of Le collectif des femmes africaines du Hainaut
Sandrine Apers, Présidente d’association of Association Le Monde à Travers un Regard
Michel Carriere
Astrid Tuncky
Philippe Portier, Responsable Syndical of FGMM-CFDT
Luc Helin
Nejia Sghir
Alizé Collet
Louise Goffin
M ohamed el Amine Benmouaz
Alain Benoit
Magali Duval
Elena Thomas , Directrice of Cabinet Conseil
Badou Ortega
Héloïse Galili
Germaine-Maëva Custinne, Administrateur of FIRE-FeC Général Asbl – Force, Interculturalité, Renforcement de l’Empowerment de la Femme d’origine Congolaise en Général
Luisa Soriano
Dominique Schillings