Date: Mon Oct 30 2006 - 15:23:47 AST
WUNRN
http://www.wunrn.com
COUNCIL OF EUROPE
http://www.coe.int/t/congress/stopviolence/default_en.asp
Contact: congress.violence@coe.int
The role of local and regional representatives in the fight
against domestic violence
The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities is committed to
the fight to end domestic violence against women; in the past, the Congress
has already taken a strong stand against violence and such crimes as
trafficking in human beings. Furthermore, the Congress has sought to counter
gender-based discrimination and the unequal balance of power between the
sexes, insisting on the importance of women's participation in political
life and their individual voting rights as a means of empowerment and an
affirmation of their equal role in society.
The campaign launched by the Council of Europe in November 2006
aims, over the next two years, to raise awareness of this serious crime and
to find effective measures for preventing and combating it together with its
member states' governments, parliamentarians, local and regional
authorities, NGOs and civil society.
Violence must be fought by individuals, by communities and by
states, and the campaign emphasises that this is a problem that concerns
everyone and which everyone can play their part in addressing – and who
better than authorities at grass-roots level who deal with the direct
effects of such violence on a tragically daily basis?
The strengths of elected representatives at local and regional
level lie in their closeness to the citizen which means they can be
effective where it matters – in targeted awareness-raising, and above all in
implementing tailored protection and prevention measures.
The Congress urges local and regional authorities across Europe
to make the fight against violence against women – including violence in the
family or domestic unit – a priority, by becoming actively involved in the
Council of Europe campaign at their level –some suggestions on how to
participate are given on this site – but also by pushing for the strongest
commitment of their national authorities and parliament.
The Congress will organise a conference in 2007 aimed at
exploring the different avenues available to local and regional authorities
in the fight against violence against women with an emphasis on
awareness-raising, protection of victims and training of actors involved
with victims such as law enforcement and social services. GOOD PRACTICES
The Congress invites local and regional authorities to
share their experiences in the fight against domestic violence. These "Good
practices" will regurarly be published on our web-site. To send your
contribution just fill in this form
Form
LAUNCHING CONFERENCE
The launching conference of the Council of Europe campaign
on domestic violence against women will take place on 27 November 2006 in
Madrid, with the participation of Ian Micallef, President of the Chamber of
Local Authorities of the Congress.
Programme (pdf)
Participation in the Conference
Registration form
INFORMATION
Campaign programme
Logo and posters (pdf)
WEB RESSOURCES
Official website of the Campaign
Website of the Human Rights Directorate of the Council of
Europe
Website of the Parliamentary Assembly
Contact congress.violence@coe.int
