Brussels, 21/11/2000 (Agence Europe) - On the eve of the International Day for the fight against violence to women (25 November), Anna Diamantopoulou, European Equal Opportunities Commissioner; Nicole Péry, French Secretary of State for Women's Rights; and Maj Britt Theorin, Chair of the European Parliament's Committee on Women's Rights, decided to rekindle the "white ribbon" campaign (initially launched in 1998 by the Justice Commissioner at the time, Anita Gradin) with a joint letter sent to the prime ministers and members of the EU national parliaments to take this matter "to the highest level" and to make political decision-makers more aware of the problem.
The three above personalities draw attention to the fact that violence towards women is a problem "affecting our political life" and causing more death and disability among females aged 15-44 than cancer, malaria, traffic accidents or war. Violence against women is a crime that is still tolerated by collective silence but which should be treated as a crime and be legally punished, said Anna Diamantopoulou (during a joint press conference with Maj Britt Theorin). She added that one women out of five in Europe has been a victim of violence at least once in her life. Political action, she said, is needed to fight against this violence: making policy makers aware and not just the man in the street, establishing studies to collect reliable data at European level, and reviewing existing legislation, concluded the Commissioner. Maj Britt Theorin said concrete legislative measures are needed in all Member States but, above all, it is the attitude of men that has to be changed.