Brussels, 05/11/2009 (Agence Europe) - In Brussels on Wednesday 4 November, the women's rights committee adopted a resolution on combating violence against women (by 17 votes to four, with four abstentions). The resolution calls on: - member states to ensure that such offences result in automatic prosecution; - member states and the Commission to embark on concerted action, including public awareness and information campaigns on domestic violence and strategies aimed at changing social stereotypes of women through media and education.
The committee also called for a comprehensive EU plan of action and a more coherent Community plan on tackling violence against women. Arrangements should also be made to enable female victims of gender-based violence and people-trafficking networks to assert their rights everywhere in the EU. (G.B./transl.rt)