EWL Observatory on Violence against Women

Published onMarch 15, 2016

The EWL Observatory on Violence against women is a key player on the issue of violence against women at European level, counting with almost 20 years of experience. The EWL Observatory was set up in 1997, two years after the Beijing Declaration and Platform for action where the states committed to take action to combat on violence against women. Thanks to the extensive experience of its members all over Europe, the EWL Observatory has been a key laboratory of innovation and visibility. The EWL Observatory was the first one to provide European wide data about the huge prevalence of domestic violence in Europe (1999). Over almost 20 years, the EWL Observatory has acted as watchdog of the policy and practice developments on the topic, giving visibility to the real situation on the ground regarding the prevalence of violence against women and the prevention and protection policies and services offered to women in each country. Already in 2001, the EWL Observatory produced the first ever European framework to monitor progress on combating male violence against women in the European Union, including concrete indicators of protection services for women and girls.

EWL barometer on rape

The latest highly successful report that the EWL Observatory has produced has been the “Barometer on rape in the EU 2013”, that takes into account the standards set by the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention. The EWL Barometer provides a European overview on the needs for change in legislation data collection systems and support services for women victims of sexual violence. In all these years, the EWL Observatory has also been a key instrument for change mobilising relevant and influential stakeholders to create change collectively both at European level and national level. Since 2010, the EWL Observatory has been key to strengthen and coordinate advocacy action for a strong implementation of the Istanbul Convention.

Bulgaria-

In 2013, the EWL coordinated a joint project with the Council of Europe: a series of public events took place in 28 countries all over Europe, under the common slogan “Act against rape! Use the Istanbul Convention!”, around the sixteen days of activism against violence against women. As highlighted by the grassroots women’s organisations, the events were an instrumental tool in their advocacy campaigns towards the signature/ratification and implementation of the Convention. Through them, women’s organisations gathered more accurate information about the legislative processes around the Convention; consolidated alliances and increased collaboration with different NGOs; reached out to decision-makers; and ensured direct impact of their action to local services for women victims. ToRs EWL Observatory on VAW Adopted by EWL Board“>Terms of reference of the EWL Observatory on violence against women, approved by the EWL Board in 2016. Experts of the EWL Observatory: https://womenlobby.org/List-of-experts?lang=en EWL Work on violence against women: https://womenlobby.org/-ewl-work-on-violence-against-women-?lang=en