Re-affirmation of Resolution 1998/7 with Update (2013, No. 4) Open

Violence Directed Against Women (1998, No. 7)

As violence directed against women is reaching an intolerable level in certain countries and situations,

that NFAs

• ask their respective governments to condemn all forms of violence directed against women and use every available means to bring such abuses to an end; and
• encourage their members to engage in this campaign and to report on the results of their efforts in order to measure the impact achieved;
• encourage their governments to support actively United Nations Conventions and Commissions, particularly the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), and to put pressure on other governments to do likewise.

and wishes to update it by the following addition :

 

The 31st Conference resolves that:

1. NFAs urge their governments to recognise as an instrumental model the value of the Convention of the Council of Europe on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence in their countries.
2. NFAs encourage their respective governments if relevant to ratify or accede to this Convention;
3. National Federations and Associations (NFAs) urge their respective governments to review their criminal law so that it complies with international law to ascertain that all forms of domestic violence are duly addressed and persons acting against the laws are punished; and
4. NFAs advocate for social and legal recognition that rape is possible within marriage, and that, if committed, it constitutes a criminal offence.

 

Suggested Action:

1. NFAs should cite this Convention as a model in all advocacy against violence; it is the first legally binding instrument in the world to create a comprehensive legal framework to prevent violence, to protect victims and to end the impunity of perpetrators;
2. NFAs should maintain contacts and continued discussions with national authorities and political decision-makers and urge their respective governments to revise legislation regarding women and girls in line with the aforementioned Convention;
3. NFAs should encourage state and municipal authorities in co-operation with NGOs to organize educational programs for police, the judiciary, teachers, social/health-care professionals and immigration authorities to help them to recognize crimes suffered by women and girls. Especially important is to recognize crimes which are often hidden in the disguise of culture; and
4. GWI should utilize its standing committees, and its website /member networks and discussions to implement this resolution.