“We mark this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Woman on a sombre note” said the Secretary General of the Council of Europe said in a statement issued on Thursday 24 November on the eve of the International Day.
In the document, Marija Pejčinović Burić discusses the situation facing the more than 7 million women, girls and children who make up 90% of Ukrainian refugees.
We must “redouble our efforts” to improve assistance to those who are particularly vulnerable to sexual violence and human trafficking and we must “be prepared for future assistance”, she said, referring to the work undertaken by the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention (GREVIO) and the reports that have been drawn up following missions by its Special Representative on Migration and Refugees.
On this basis, it advocates the establishment of emergency aid centres to provide medical care and immediate support and advice in the event of trauma, all of which is to be delivered by qualified personnel.
We must also “punish the perpetrators”, the Secretary General adds, referring to the “Report on the future of the Council of Europe” drafted by a group of high-level experts and published on 5 October.
The report includes a recommendation on respecting human rights in conflict zones and proposes the establishment of an office to inform the Council of Europe about human rights issues.
These questions “may include information on cases of sexual violence committed against women and girls resulting from the Russian aggression against Ukraine”, said Marija Pejčinović Burić.
Link to the Secretary General’s Statement: https://aeur.eu/f/49v (Original version in French by Véronique Leblanc)