Brussels, 08/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - On the eve of International Woman's Day, the EU15 Employment and Social Affairs Ministers met in Brussels on 7 March under the chairmanship of Juan Carlos Aparicio. They held a public debate on combating violence against women. A priority of the Spanish Presidency, the eradication of violence towards women requires a coherent approach, stressed President Aparicio. In its conclusions, the Presidency notes that the Member States stress the need to: 1) establish an integrated and multidisciplinary approach for suppression of violence directed at women, by incorporating gender equality concerns in the various policies (social, employment, justice, internal affairs, health, education, youth); 2) ensure that the good practices guide helps them to take the most effective measures for combating violence of sexist motivation, the aim being to prevent it altogether; 3) launch national and local campaigns so that the society becomes aware of the gravity of the question, and choose each year a priority theme to be defined by the High Level Group on gender integration in the different policies; and 4) improve statistics and establish joint definitions. A common terminology is therefore needed on violence in the EU, as well as indicators allowing progress made since the implementation of the action programme in Beijing to be assessed. Indicators should be integrated in the data collected by Eurostat and Europol. The Danish Presidency will fix indicators for European strategy in combating violence, welcomed by Mr Aparicio who mainly asked it to make public opinion as aware as possible so that it is inflexible towards this scourge, and to educate it and ensure that legislation protects the victims and punishes the aggressors.
Ministers held discussions on the basis of a President document, reflecting the results of the Saint Jacques de Compostelle conference (see EUROPE of 18 and 19 February, p.11), and answered three questions raised by the Presidency on domestic violence, awareness campaigns at European level and the setting in place of indicators for assessing progress made by the Member States. Luxembourg and France requested the inclusion in these concerns of pornography and prostitution. The problem of violence does not only concern women but also all socio-professional sectors involved in combating this kind of violence, said Luxembourg, followed by Portugal. Europol and Eurostat have a role to play in the establishment of a common terminology and in the improvement of relevant statistics, stressed the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. The United Kingdom suggested the setting in place of an interministerial group, and remarked that domestic violence is also against men and children, and is to be found in every level of society. Sweden calls for indicators and a clear legislation on the role of the police when faced by such acts. It also calls, like Finland, for examination to be made, above all, of violence against pregnant women, disabled women and the elderly and for specialised personnel to be better armed to be able to face up to such violence. Denmark hoped that the prevention campaigns would clearly target aggressors, by keeping them distant from their households for some time. Italy called for strategic participation in all bodies concerned (forces of law and order, the justice system, health and educational services). Regarding the integration of prostitution in concerns to be covered, the Netherlands took a mitigated view, as prostitution is legal there, except for minors. Ireland opted for zero tolerance against violence to women, and stressed that cooperation and coordination of all relevant services (medical, religious and legal professions, NGOs, etc.) is vital.
After the debate, Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou noted that nearly all delegations were in agreement on four points: 1) the idea that prostitution should be an integral part of the approach to combat violence against women; 2) the need to have indicators and concrete statistics; 3) the very important role that awareness campaigns can play at European level; and 4) the role of men in policies to fight violence against women.