Combating domestic violence through reinforced legal measures

Strasbourg, 15.02.2007 – What new legal measures can European governments take to combat domestic violence? This is the theme of a seminar being held on 21 and 22 February in The Hague (Netherlands) by the Council of Europe and the Dutch Ministry of Justice.

The participants will discuss implementation of measures such as:

- protection and non-molestation orders, whereby the perpetrator of violence is barred from the home of a former or current partner and/or from any other place where he or she may be found;
- the establishment of specialised courts making it easier for victims to seek justice;
- recognition of aggravating circumstances in criminalising domestic violence.

The seminar will be open to the press from 10 a.m. on Wednesday 21 February (NH Hotel, Prinses Margrietplantsoen 100, 2595 BR The Hague).

Across European countries one fifth to one quarter of all women have experienced physical violence at least once during their lives, and more than one-tenth have suffered sexual violence. It is also estimated that about 12% to 15% of all women have been in a relationship of domestic abuse after the age of 16.

In view of the scale of violence against women in all European countries, the Council of Europe has launched a European campaign, which will run until 2008, to draw public attention to the extent of the violence done to women and encourage states to pass new legislation and measures in order to eradicate it.

This regional seminar is the first in a series of five taking place in 2007; the other host countries are Croatia, Portugal, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and Finland.

For further information please consult the campaign website: www.coe.int/stopviolence.

Press contact:
Estelle Steiner, Press officer
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 33 35, mobile + 33 (0)6 08 46 01 57, [email protected].

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A political organisation set up in 1949, the Council of Europe works to promote democracy and human rights continent-wide. It also develops common responses to social, cultural and legal challenges in its 46 member states.