[Lisbon, 12 February 2015] The Association of Women Against Violence is trying for more than 20 years to implement specialized, integrated and articulated support services for survivors of sexual violence, in Portugal. It’s time to change!
The survey results of the Agency for Fundamental Rights of the European Union [FRA, Violence against women survey, 2012] estimate that 3.7 million women in the EU were victims of sexual violence in 2011; in Portugal 41,542 women and girls in 2011 were victims of sexual violence by partners and non-partners.
In the last 14 years the Portuguese Police recorded (INE) 5,088 rape crimes, an average of 391 rapes per year, 33 rapes per month – that is, one rape per day.
Rape is internationally recognized as one of the most devastating forms of gender-based violence, an attack to the physical, psychological and sexual integrity of girls and women, and a violation of their human rights. The truth is that this is still considered a taboo and remains shrouded in silence. The vast majority of sexual crimes against women are not revealed and sexual violence continues to be underestimated (EIGE 2013).
The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence obliges Portugal to offer support to victims of sexual violence, namely “take the necessary legislative or other measures to provide for the setting up of appropriate, easily accessible rape crisis or sexual violence referral centres for victims in sufficient numbers” (Article 25).
We demand:
- A rape survivors’ specialised center per 200,000 women (minimum standards of the CoE);
- The compliance with international conventions and treaties ratified by the Portuguese State by the parliamentarians, policy makers, politicians, and the government to ensure the full implementation of women’s human rights;
- The definition of intervention procedures in cases of rape and sexual violence against women and children (girls and boys) through a network, so that in due time, in an integrated and coherent way, women, youth and children are protected;
- The accountability of perpetrators; Specific trainingaimed at legal practitioners, security forces, health and social supportfocused on specialised support to victims, and combat to stereotypes of sexual violence;
- The definition and implementation of effective and sustainableprevention strategies targeted at different groups (from awareness raising campaigns aimed at the general public, to educational programs for children and young people in schools, guidelines for the media, etc.);
- Increased knowledge(statistics and studies) on sexual violence and rape in Portugal. Only by knowing it is possible to intervene appropriately.
- Outrage against sexual violence in Portugal
If these are also your demands, take action!
SIGN THE PETITION!
Links:
Avaaz petition
Facebookpage
