New web page dedicated to the European Parliament's special International Women's Day 2010

8 march 2010

Throughout the month of March, the site will cover events related to the theme of this year: stop violence against women. European and national parliamentarians, experts and citizens will foster debates, events and exchanges of ideas, even on Facebook, how to fight violence against women and assist victims. The theme of the campaign, documents, interviews, images and videos have a single leitmotif: we can stop it together!
A research of the Istat in 2008 reported that in Italy one in three women between 16 and 70 has been abused or mistreated in her life. The theme chosen by Parliament this year to celebrate the International Women's Day is the elimination of violence against the gentle sex.
Here is an interview with Swedish members of the group Left United, Eva-Britt Svennson, chairman of the Parliamentary Commission on the Rights of Women of the European Parliament. Eva-Britt Svensson has been a victim of violence and she fights against the abuses to be considered crimes against women in Europe. Here are hes ideas on how the EU can act and how women should react.

What has the European Union and the European Parliament done so far to eliminate
violence against women?
First of all I think we haven’t done enough because we still have a lot of gender based
violence and violence against women. But we have really started to inform people about
violence. We have campaigned and we have a special programme called the Daphne programme
to tackle violence. Some of our member states have very good legislation concerning
violence towards women. Now is the time to have legislation at an EU level.
If you had to choose only three tools that EU should adopt in the future to help victims,
what would they be?
Firstly, support for the victims. You must have legislation so that women in all member states
know that it (violence) is a crime. And you must have the possibility to get support from social
authorities, from police and from judges.
Secondly, the Spanish EU presidency has proposed a common telephone number - this is
good because if you have telephone number in your head and it is the same wherever you
are, it could be easier for victims to call for help.
Number three is to have a good data from all countries about violence: how many victims
we have and analyse why we have this violence.
Statistics say that every 4th or 5th women in her lifetime suffers physical violence
and every 10th suffers sexual violence. You personally also have an experience with
violence. What would you say to the victims?
I want to say to all women living today in violent relationship: it is possible to leave this bad
relationship and make your own life. I know how it is like. You blame yourself, he has control
of everything and you are afraid every moment of the day and night.
Imagine living and every moment of your life being afraid of the person you have a relationship
with, you have been in love with, you have children with. He is the most important
person in your life but he is your threat. So realize that you cannot accept it, you can leave
this relationship and build a new life.
Do you see in few months any EU legislation that could help the victims?
Yes, we have a proposal concerning a European protection order. For example I come from
Sweden. When I had experience with violence, I went to the police and they denied the
perpetrator the right to be close to my apartment and working place. I even had a panic
button that I could use if he came to my apartment. Thanks to this European protection order,
if you have a decision from your home country and if you travel to other countries, you can
show to local police authorities that you have the right to protection wherever you are in EU.

http://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/public/story_page/014-69687-060-03-10-902-20100226STO69661-2010-01-03-2010/default_it.htm