Brussels, 12/04/2002 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday the European Commission published its intermediate assessment report on the setting up of the Daphne Programme, which aims to fight against the problem of violence against women, teenagers and children in Europe over the 2000-2003 period (see EUROPE yesterday, page 14). The Commissioner in charge of Justice and Home Affairs, Antonio Vitorino, will present it to the European Parliament on 18 April. This report outlines the level of progress achieved in the Daphne Community action programme since its adoption in January 2000 (see EUROPE 11 February 2000, page 12) and provides a synthesis of its main achievements.
Up till now, 73 projects have been approved. They deal with all kinds of violence against women, teenagers and children (domestic violence, violence in schools, violence against minorities etc.) and includes innovative methods of prevention, co-operation, exchanges and networks, the developing of new models, as well as best practices. The projects in 2000 and 2002 reveal that: 1) different kinds of sexual violence accounts for the highest level of all violence (sexual violence represents 17% of the total; sexual violence for commercial ends 8%, traffic in human beings 7%), violence linked to sex and/or the family (violence by men against women 8%; family violence 7%; domestic violence 11%), 6% of total cases come from the internet and child pornography; 2) 26% of projects are preventative, 17% focus on protection from violence; 8% legislative measures, 12% victim support and 5% delinquents. This data concur with the figures on the groups targeted: perpetrators and violent men (6%), legal and police personnel (20%); 3) methods and means used for attaining objectives - the setting up of a network of those fighting against violence is the most important instrument (23%), followed by good practices (14%), production materials (12%), raising awareness (12%) and training (11%), while telephone assistance only accounts for 2% of proposals.
A press statement from the spokesperson's office again highlighted that in 2000-2001, the Commission received a total of 622 proposals and funding requests for a total amount of EUR 40 million in 2000 and EUR 22 million in 2001, which largely exceeds the annual EUR 5 million made available in the Daphné Programme budget line (see EUROPE 23 December 2000). The communiqué also notes that the NGOs involved have undoubtedly benefited from their participation in European partnerships by way of the training they have received, the strengthening of their co-ordination or management capability and an improvement in their image.