Parliament condemns all forms of racism, hate and violence and calls for action

There is no place for racism and discrimination in our societies, say MEPs, asking the EU to take a strong and decisive stand against racism, violence and injustice.In a resolution adopted on Friday with 493 votes to 104 and 67 abstentions, the Parliament “strongly condemns the appalling death of George Floyd” in the US, as well as similar killings elsewhere in the world. MEPs call on the US authorities to address structural racism and inequalities, criticise the police crackdowns on peaceful protesters and journalists and President Trump’s threat to deploy the army as well as his “inflammatory rhetoric”.
The Chamber supports the recent massive protests around the world against racism and discrimination and condemns “white supremacism in all its forms”. MEPs denounce the “episodes of looting, arson, vandalism and destruction of public and private property caused by some violent demonstrators” demanding at the same time that “the disproportionate use of force and racist tendencies in law enforcement” be publicly denounced whenever and wherever they occur.Use of force by law enforcement authorities should always be “lawful, proportionate, necessary and the last resort”, MEPs stress, insisting that “excessive use of force against crowds contravenes the principle of proportionality”. The EP underlines that cases of police brutality and abuse should not go unpunished and that citizens have the right to record scenes of police violence to use as evidence.
The text calls for the EU and its member states to end racial and ethnic profiling in criminal law enforcement, counter-terrorism measures and immigration controls. New technologies in this field must not discriminate against racial and ethnic minorities, it adds.Police and law enforcement authorities must have “an exemplary record on anti-racism and anti-discrimination” and should strengthen training in this regard, MEPs say, calling also for more diversity within police forces.The EU institutions and the member states should officially acknowledge past injustices and crimes against humanity committed against black people, people of colour and Roma, according to Parliament, which declares slavery a crime against humanity.Combating discrimination in all areas must be an EU priority, say MEPs, who urge the Council to “immediately conclude the negotiations on the Horizontal Directive on non-discrimination”, blocked by EU countries since the Commission proposed it in 2008.Freedom of speech does not protect racism and xenophobia. The resolution underlines that racist and xenophobic speech is not covered by freedom of expression. MEPs regret that extremist and xenophobic political forces worldwide increasingly resort to the “distortion of historical, statistical and scientific facts and employ symbolism and rhetoric that echo aspects of totalitarian propaganda, including racism, anti-Semitism and hatred towards minorities”.

The violence in American cities reflects the fury of polarisation

THE SUMMER heat has its way of energising our political passions. The American and French revolutions both began in earnest with the sweltering June and July air stuck to each soldier’s skin. In 1967, a “long hot summer” of violence erupted throughout the United States as protesters against police brutality and racial injustice clashed with police and the national guard in most big cities. The following summer saw similar protests, and—like today—a hotly contested presidential election. The current unrest in America is similar in many ways to the riots of the 20th century, with young people and minorities expressing grievances over both racial inequality and the relationship with their government. But two recent developments serve both to worsen the tensions between protesters and their opponents and to decrease the chance that the government will find a solution: political polarisation and partisan rage.The turmoil of 1968 is the most obvious parallel to today’s. Then, the Republican Party’s Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew were the candidates of “law and order,” pledging to crack down on the violence and extend sentences for rioters. That year’s election was also a major catalyst for the marriage of race and political party in America. Nixon’s and Agnew’s electoral strategies probably helped them capitalise on the anger and anxiety of many white voters. In a new research article about the contest, Omar Wasow, a political scientist at Princeton University, finds that the year’s protests “likely caused a 1.5–7.9% shift among whites toward Republicans and tipped the election”. Since then, characterising protests as racial violence and promising to “crack down” on it has become a linchpin of the Republican Party’s electoral playbook. (by The Economist)

When democracy blocks violence

If we go to the time when the human being decided to live in community, I think that the problem of how to reconcile cohabitation with corporate and governance interests was immediately raised. In the millennia that have passed since then, it has become clear that the system has been disrupted by the tendency of some members of the community towards their own kind. In other words, wanting to play “dirty” to derive personal benefits from both an economic and a thirst for power. The popular reaction was not long in coming and the outbreak was ignited, generating conflicts of every kind and for a variety of reasons: ethnic, religious, social and cultural. If we bring this seed of discord back to the reality of our day we can say that there are many failures obtained but also the success of stable equilibria.
To which we should ask ourselves, dutifully, the reasons for the malfunctioning and because the virtuous expectations have not taken root worldwide. On the other hand, as one may think that once a model of democratic management of public affairs has been implemented, it may, at a certain point, not hold up to popular expectations, even becoming a contradiction in terms with bloody demonstrations. It is that the negative aspect, in my opinion, depends on the use we have made of the same democracy by introducing conflicting elements of global significance. We think of capitalism that has degenerated into greed, selfishness, easy enrichment to the detriment of the weakest. Let’s think about what real socialism has left us and even before that Marxism-Leninism. We think of the globalization of markets that is degraded into a permanent social conflict. We think of the damage we have caused to the environment with expansive economies that do not respect the habitat or anything else.
From many sides the well-thinking think that they call for correction and virtuous behavior to restore democracy to its primitive identity, generated by the Athenian revolution, and that our fathers, in their wisdom, have recognized the value and scope of the message. Because the democratic precept is not cultivated by quoting it but by practicing it and in this sense it can become the only force capable of countering violence and bringing homo novus to suffocate passions in the name of reason. (Riccardo Alfonso)

World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder mourns loss of life in Gaza border violence

NEW YORK – Reacting to the deadly demonstrations on the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel this week, World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder said: “The World Jewish Congress mourns the senseless loss of civilian life on the Israel-Gaza border, and holds Hamas fully responsible for the violent developments.“Hamas is a terrorist organization that has hijacked the Palestinian citizens’ right to protest peacefully and brought bloodshed and misery to the people for whose welfare it claims to be responsible.”By fueling hatred against Israelis and massive unprecedented violence on the border, Hamas has incited both innocent civilians and confirmed terrorists to commit acts of suicidal violence against Israel. The hallmark of the group is the cynical use of its own people, including children, as cannon fodder.“Israel has the right, like all sovereign nations, to defend its borders from attack and infiltration, and to protect its citizens.“It is critical to recognize the fact that Hamas is controlling and leading this violence, and endangering the lives of tens of thousands of its own citizens by pushing them to charge toward the border fence into the path of fire.”We urge the international community to call for calm, and to ensure that the facts of this situation are disseminated accurately and widely. The lives of both Palestinians and Israelis depend on this,” Lauder said.

Anti-Semitic violence will never be tolerated

NEW YORK – The World Jewish Congress has expressed extreme concern after a gang of masked men hurled firebombs at a synagogue in the Swedish city of Gothenburg on Saturday night. “; we call on all European governments to make this message infinitely clear and enforced,” said WJC CEO Robert Singer. “The terror targeting the Jewish community in Gothenburg is a cause for extreme concern and vigilance. There can be no tolerance for any anti-Semitic violence or hate speech of any kind, and the World Jewish Congress stands vigilant in its support of the Swedish community,” Singer said. “We urge the Swedish authorities to take every measure possible to ensure the safety, security and well-being of its citizens. No person should ever have to live in fear or danger.”“On my recent visit to Sweden I held in-depth discussions with members of the community and they made it clear to me that their security in the face of rising anti-Semitism was their greatest concern. During my visit, I met with Sweden’s minister of justice, the minister of democracy responsible for minorities, the national police commissioner, and the chief of police for Greater Gothenberg on this issue. We trust that the Swedish authorities are taking responsibility for the safety of the community and its venues and are treating this matter with the utmost attentiveness and seriousness, and we stand ready to provide all forms of support,” Singer added.“Just a few months ago, on the eve of Yom Kippur, the Gothenburg community was faced with a serious neo-Nazi demonstration scheduled to march past its synagogue on the holiest day of the Jewish year, which was derailed following intervention by the local administrative court in Gothenburg, and after significant measures taken by the community, and with our assistance, all at the highest levels,” Singer said.”Anti-Semitism is rearing its ugly head on both the right and the left across Europe, but regardless of where it is coming from, it will not be tolerated. We call on the governments of Sweden and all European countries to make this message infinitely clear and enforced,” said Singer.

MEPs call for zero tolerance for violence against women

Bruxelles. The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention will provide a coherent European legal framework to prevent and combat violence against women and gender-based violence.
Women’s rights and Civil liberties MEPs welcome the signing of the EU accession of the Istanbul Convention on 13 June 2017 and make following recommendations:
urge Member States to speed up negotiations on the ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention;
EP should be fully engaged in the monitoring process of the Istanbul Convention following the EU’s accession;
Member States should allocate adequate financial and human resources to prevent and combat violence against women and gender-based violence;
victims should be compensated, in particular those living in areas where the protection services to the victims do not exist or they are very limited;
appropriate training, procedures and guidelines for all professionals dealing with the victims of all acts of violence should be available;
promote a change in attitudes and behaviours;
combat sexism and stereotyped gender roles – promoting gender-neutral language and address the key role of media and advertising;The denial of sexual and reproductive health and rights services, including safe and legal abortion, is a form of violence against women and girls, says the text. MEPs reiterate that women and girls must have control over their bodies.The Istanbul Convention ensures that culture, custom, religion, tradition or so-called “honour” cannot be a justification of any acts of violence against women. Committee MEPs call on Member States to adopt measures to address new forms of crime, including sex-extortion, grooming, voyeurism and revenge pornography, and protect victims, who experience serious trauma leading sometimes even to suicide.
Finally, MEPs stress that the EU’s accession will bring better monitoring, interpretation and implementation of EU laws, programmes, funds and better data collection.
“Violence against women is too often seen as a private issue and too often tolerated. It is a serious crime and it must be punished as such. Too many women and girls are still harassed, abused and raped in Europe, in public places, at home and now even on the social media, where persecution is affecting an entire generation of young women. With our report today we give the voice to many women and girls to break the vicious circle of silence and fear and shift the guilt from victims to perpetrators. We send a strong message to the Member States to take their responsibility and proceed with the ratification and the implementation of the Istanbul Convention. Time has come to move from words to action”, said co-rapporteur Anna Maria Corazza Bildt (EPP, SV).
“The LIBE and FEMM committees have made a decisive step forward to protect the fundamental right of women to live free from violence wherever they are in Europe. The EU accession will provide a coherent legal framework to combat violence against women from prevention to support for all victims. Time is running out, considering that one third of all women in Europe have experienced physical or sexual acts of violence. Once again, I strongly urge Member states which have not yet ratified the Istanbul Convention, to do so as quickly as possible. The EU accession does not exonerate them from national ratification and we need to join forces to eradicate violence against women, once and for all”, added co- rapporteur Christine Revault d’Allonnes-Bonnefoy (S&D, FR).

Global research priorities for interpersonal violence prevention: a modified Delphi study

Almost half a million people are victims of homicide every year and one in three women has experienced violence from an intimate partner at some point during her life. Furthermore, a quarter of adults report having been physically abused in childhood and one in five women and one in 13 men report having been sexually abused in childhood. Interpersonal violence during childhood can have serious, lifelong consequences that affect mental and physical health, academic and job performance and social functioning.In addition, interpersonal violence, which includes child maltreatment, intimate partner violence, youth violence, armed violence, sexual violence and elder abuse, create an economic burden on society. Over the last two decades, the prevention of interpersonal violence has risen on the international public health agenda. In May 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) adopted a global plan of action to strengthen the role of health systems in addressing interpersonal violence, particularly against women and girls and against children. The 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs) recently adopted by the United Nations include four targets on interpersonal violence: to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, to eliminate all harmful practices against women and girls (target, to reduce significantly all forms of violence and related deaths everywhere; and (iv) to end abuse, exploitation, trafficking and all forms of violence against children In spite of progress in the past 20 years, major gaps in violence prevention remain. The Global status report on violence prevention1 reveals that civil and vital registration data on homicide are lacking in 40% of countries. Moreover, fewer than half of all countries have reported conducting population-based surveys on most forms of nonfatal violence, such as child maltreatment, youth violence and elder abuse. Only 9.3% of all outcome evaluation studies in violence prevention have been conducted in low- and middleincome countries and there is no indication that this is increasing, despite over 85% of violent deaths occurring in these countries.
Research has a major role to play in reducing the global burden of interpersonal violence, by: clearly defining the magnitude and distribution of violence; identifying risk and protective factors; developing effective interventions that target these factors to prevent and respond to violence; and increasing understanding of the legislative and policy environment and the human, institutional and financial resources required to scale up effective interventions. However, current research remains under-resourced relative to the burden of the problem, it is fragmented and disproportionately focused on high-income countries.

Female refugees high risk of being victims of gender-based violence

Women and girls fleeing from persecution or turmoil in their home countries are particularly at risk of physical, sexual and psychological violence when seeking sanctuary, in transit and when they arrive in the EU. In advance of World Refugee Day on 20 June, FRA’s latest summary report of migration-related fundamental rights concerns, throws the spotlight on the plight of female refugees at reception and accommodation centres. This issue will also feature during discussions on improving refugee protection as part of FRA’s 4-day Fundamental Rights Forum which also opens that day.“Basic daily tasks like taking a shower exposes female refugees to potential acts of violence. Member States urgently need to find ways of managing the refugee situation in full respect of fundamental rights so that women and girls are not put at risk,” says FRA Director Michael O’Flaherty. “FRA’s Fundamental Rights Forum seeks to find solutions to ensure refugees can enjoy their rights to life, dignity and freedom from slavery. The Forum is a unique opportunity to bring people with a human rights vision together to suggest ways forward.”
The reports identifies a number of issues in relation to preventing, identifying and addressing victims of gender-based violence, including the alarming lack of data from Member States on violence against women and girls that are newly arrived or need international protection. It points to the shared use of bathrooms and showers in reception and accommodation centres particularly in the evenings or at night that are not separated for men and women. Sometimes such facilities are accessible via unlit corridors and doors that cannot be locked. Such issues expose women and girls to greater risks, and leave them feeling unsafe.
Victims rarely report their attacks. This is often due to fear about the repercussions on the victim’s asylum claim or from the perpetrator (especially when it comes to domestic violence), and the lack of information about what can be done. In some Member States, if they flee the centre without permission because of fear or because they have been attacked then they may also be judged as having committed an offence.Various EU and national laws and policies take gender-based violence into consideration when it comes to granting asylum and when receiving asylum seekers. However, drawing on data from the nine Member States most affected by the migration flows, FRA has identified challenges in identifying, reporting and protecting female refugees which Member States should tackle. These include: No Member State collects data on reported incidents of gender-based violence towards female refugees that have just arrived or need international protection.
Information on gender-based violence, how to report it and where to seek help is not usually available in reception centres.
Victims are reluctant to report to reception centre authorities or the police. Most Member States are taking steps to address this. These include: asylum interviews with women in private rooms by trained staff and interpreters of the same sex separated from the husband; information material and sessions; and ‘women-only’ spaces.
Nearly half of the Member States have guidelines or procedures to identify and deal with victims. However, they are not always effective and training is often lacking.All Member States offer some form of prevention of gender-based violence and protection for victims. Most commonly this includes separate accommodation for newly-arrived unaccompanied migrant women and access to women’s shelters for victims. Sometimes victims can receive medical and psycho-social support, and report incidents of violence but protective and preventative measures are rarely comprehensive and seldom coordinated. Some Member States lack legal support or adequate interpretation for victims of gender-based violence in reception centres. To better protect female refugees the European Parliament has also recently called for new gender guidelines. In addition, the European Commission has suggested that the EU ratifies the Council of Europe’s violence against women convention (the Istanbul Convention) which also covers migration and asylum. It would then join the 14 Member States that have already ratified the Convention (all 28 have signed it) which provides a solid legal basis for addressing violence against all women. (photo: Female refugees)

IPPF Syrian Representative available for Interview at the World Health

Summit Tuesday 24 May. In Syria, an estimated 46,500 women will suffer gender based violence, including rape, as a result of the ongoing conflict. More than 75% of Syrian refugees who fled are women and children.Women and girls are disproportionately influenced by humanitarian crises exposed to early marriage, trafficking, rape, forced pregnancies, unattended service delivery during complicated pregnancies and delivery. Women and girls are 14 times more likely to die in disaster settings than men.Dr Lama Moukea is the Executive Director of the Syrian Family Planning Association, created in 1974 and is one of the leading SRH Organisations in the country, in particular reaching the poor and the vulnerable. SFPA is part of the International Planned Parenthood Federation. Today, more than half of the Syrian population is in need of humanitarian assistance but only 43% of the hospitals are functional.
Everyday about 1,500 women give birth in very difficult conditions because the healthcare system is collapsing.There is a major shortage of contraceptive services and supplies. Many women are facing unwanted, unplanned pregnancies. Gender based violence has increased dramatically.The clinics have been offering reproductive health services with medical, social, psychological and legal assistance to GBV victims They have service delivery points increased from 24 to 94 across the country and we provided over 1 million services in 2015.We are developing new Static clinics all over Syrian governorates to provide comprehensive services that empower women by providing Reproductive health services, psychosocial trauma and legal support.In all of the clinics created ‘women safe spaces’ have been created which provides vocational and income generation activities.

ONE focuses on religion to prevent violence

Washington, D.C. Religious leaders and faith-based organizations across the world are meeting to understand their role in preventing incitement to violence that could lead to atrocity crimes.”Religion can be key in countering this issue,” said Gerald Filson, Director of Public Affairs of the Baha’i Community of Canada and Chair of the Canadian Interfaith Conversation. The Canadian Baha’i community has been vigorously engaged in a discourse in that country on the constructive role of religion in society.Dr. Filson represented the Baha’i community in the most recent of the regional meetings organized by the United Nations Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect. The forum was held at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. on 29 February to 1 March and was one of five that are taking place all over the globe during the year to explore this important theme.In his contribution to the dialogue, Dr. Filson discussed the importance of educational programs for youth, which he explained cannot be overstated. “Youth are looking for positive messages and want to change the world for the better. Religious leaders need to give systematic focus on programs for this age group. “Present at the D.C. meeting were a Special Advisor on the Prevention of Genocide Adama Dieng, President of the U.S. Institute for Peace Nancy Lindborg, Assistant Secretary General and an Ombudsman John Barkat, and Representative of the World Council of Churches Rudelmar Bueno De Faria.The diversity at the worldwide seminars has allowed for a rich exchange of experiences and the sharing of positive actions from an array of different groups. For instance, at the meeting held in Amman, Jordan, one presenter referred to the initiative of Ayatollah Abdol-Hamid Masoumi-Tehrani on Iran as “an example of a good fatwa”.Participants at each of the five conferences developed regional strategies to prevent and counter incitement to discrimination, hostility, and violence. The strategies discussed in the D.C. meeting included mapping incitement issues and trends, developing and circulating alternative messages or counter-speech that can be spread, engaging those responsible for incitement in dialogue, building education programs, seeking political support, and strengthening inter-religious activities.”This series of meetings reflects in many ways the response called for in the Universal House of Justice’s 2002 Message to Religious Leaders which asked, among other things, for religious leaders to speak out against religious extremism and accept the divine basis of all world religions,” Dr. Filson said. He also noted how often speakers talked about the importance of the concepts of “one humanity” and “one God”, and referred to unity, harmony of all religions, equality of women and men, and the importance of responding to hate with love.”Comments at the meeting also seemed to indicate that religious leadership in the Americas now appears able to undertake that fundamental basic reorientation that can set aside long-standing religious prejudice,” Dr. Filson said.

The Logic of Violence: A Conversation with Jocko Willink

In this episode of the Waking Up podcast, Sam Harris speaks with Jocko Willink about U.S. foreign policy, war, human evil, and other topics.Jocko Willink is a retired Navy SEAL officer, and co-founder of Echelon Front, where he is a leadership instructor, speaker, and executive coach. Jocko spent 20 years in the U.S. Navy SEAL Teams, starting as an enlisted SEAL and rising through the ranks to become an officer. As commander of SEAL Team Three’s Task Unit Bruiser during the battle of Ramadi, he orchestrated SEAL operations that helped the “Ready First” Brigade of the US Army’s First Armored Division bring stability to the violent, war-torn city. Task Unit Bruiser became the most highly decorated Special Operations Unit of the Iraq War. Jocko returned from Iraq to serve as Officer-in-Charge of training for all West Coast SEAL Teams. There, he spearheaded the development of leadership training and personally instructed and mentored the next generation of SEAL leaders who have continued to perform with great success on the battlefield. During his career, Jocko was awarded the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, and numerous other personal and unit awards. Jocko is the author (along with Leif Babin) of Extreme Ownership: How U.S. Navy SEALs Lead and Win.

Launch of report on sexual and gender-based violence in Tunisia

On Wednesday 25 November, Amnesty International will release a new report on sexual and gender-based violence in Tunisia, to coincide with the International Day to Eliminate Violence against Women, at a press conference in Tunis. Nearly five years after the 2010-2011 uprising brought promises of equality, reform and greater freedom, the report, “Assaulted and accused: Sexual and gender-based violence in Tunisia”, examines the state of violence against women and looks at people who experience violence because of their gender identity or sexual orientation in Tunisia, often considered the Arab world’s most progressive state for women’s rights and gender equality.
The report features interviews with dozens of survivors of sexual assault, rape, domestic violence and sexual harassment providing a comprehensive picture of the ongoing violence that continues to pervade Tunisian society. The report also assesses existing laws which are failing to protect survivors of such violence, despite some positive steps taken by the authorities to promote gender equality and combat sexual and gender-based violence. Advance copies of the report and the press release will be available ahead of the launch, on request. Spokespeople will be available in London and Tunis. The report is part of Amnesty International’s global My Body My Rights campaign, which aims to stop the control and criminalization of sexuality and reproduction by governments, and has already seen reports issued on women’s rights in El Salvador, Ireland and Nepal.

Malawi: Violenze sui bambini

Secondo uno studio che viene lanciato oggi : Violence against children and young women study (VACS), 2 persone su 3 in Malawi hanno subito violenza da bambini, 1 ragazza su 5 ha subito violenza sessuale prima di aver compiuto 18 anni e circa 2 ragazzi su 3 hanno subito violenze fisiche prima dei 18 anni.“Certe volte è troppo semplice ‘impantanarsi’ in percentuali e tassi di abuso con una conseguente desensibilizzazione sul numero assoluto dei bambini che hanno subito violenze. Il 7% delle ragazze che ha subito pressioni e violenze sessuali durante l’infanzia, questo significa che circa 315.000 ragazze sono state violate. Il 6,5% dei ragazzi ha subito violenza fisica, tanto da aver avuto lesioni temporanee o permanenti, questo significa 300.000 vittime. Ogni bambini ha il diritto di vivere in un ambiente protetto e sicuro, a scuola e a casa”, ha dichiarato Mahimbo Mdoe, Rappresentante UNICEF in Malawi.
Secondo il rapporto, i servizi a sostegno delle vittime di abuso sono generalmente insufficienti in Malawi. Circa il 60% dei bambini ha confidato a qualcuno di aver subito abuso, normalmente a un amico o un familiare e meno del 10% delle vittime di violenza ha mai usufruito di assistenza professionale.Altri risultati del rapporto indicano che la violenza è diventata una norma sociale. Un gran numero di ragazzi per esempio non ha dichiarato di aver subito violenza fisica perché non l’hanno percepita come un problema. Da un altro punto di vista, lo studio ha verificato che un terzo delle ragazze tra i 13 ei 17 anni che non ha dichiarato di aver subito violenza fisica, non lo hanno fatto perché pensavano fosse colpa loro.Inoltre, lo studio ha rilevato che il 42% delle ragazze considera accettabile che un marito colpisca la propria moglie in determinate circostanze. Il 41% delle ragazze, secondo lo studio, ritiene che una donna debba tollerare la violenza per tenere la famiglia unita.Lo studio, che rappresenta la prima indagine rappresentativa nazionale del Malawi esamina il problema della violenza sessuale, fisica ed emotiva contro i bambini. Secondo il rapporto, la violenza contro i bambini è diventata una regola sociale nella maggior parte delle comunità in tutto il paese.I risultati del rapporto sono contenuti in uno studio supportato dal DFID e condotto dal Ministero di infanzia, genere, disabilità e benessere sociale (MoGCDSW), dal Centro per la Ricerca Sociale dell’Università del Malawi, dall’UNICEF Malawi e dal Centro per il controllo e la prevenzione delle malattie (CDCC).
I focus group di ragazzi e ragazze su cui è stata condotta l’indagine riguardavano: un primo gruppo di età compresa tra i 18 e i 24 anni (su quanto spesso i bambini fossero stati abusati durante l’infanzia); un secondo di età compresa tra i 13 e i 17 anni (su come i bambini avevano subito abusi nell’anno precedente).La violenza sui bambini ha conseguenza dannose su di loro. Secondo il rapporto, i bambini che subiscono violenza hanno molte più probabilità di soffrire di stress, di fumare e di bere alcool, di contrarre infezioni trasmissibili sessualmente e assumere comportamenti auto lesionisti.

Renewed efforts needed to help protect girls from violence

One in three women have experienced physical or sexual violence by an adult in childhood, according to the results of FRA’s survey on violence against women published last March. This translates to roughly 61 million women in the EU. Such levels of abuse underline the need for the EU to renew their efforts to address the widespread and under-reported abuse that girls are exposed to.
“Throughout the EU many girls have been physically or sexually abused,” said FRA Director Morten Kjaerum on V-Day, in support of the global movement to end violence against women and girls. “This is unacceptable. The EU and Member States need to make sure girls are protected and cycles of abuse are stopped. This means targeting polices, legislation and programmes to reach those girls most at risk to end their suffering.”FRA’s survey on violence against women revealed the extent and nature of abuse against women and girls across the EU. The results were based on face-to-face interviews with 42,000 women in the 28 EU Member States. They provide reliable and comparable data on childhood experiences of violence.As with other areas of FRA research, the results point to widespread under-reporting as the scale of the abuse does not match the number of incidents reported to the authorities. To address this, specialist support systems, with adequate resources, are therefore crucial, as FRA’s recent report on victim support services across the EU also highlighted. Such measures will increase trust in the authorities and help young girls report instances of abuse. This in turn will help improve their access to justice.The needs of girls who are child victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse should also be better addressed during judicial proceedings. In spring this year, FRA will publish a comparative report on child participation in judicial proceedings which draws on examples of cases of domestic violence and sexual abuse. The preliminary findings highlight the importance of ensuring the child’s right to be heard and to receive information. For this, specific measures and training are required to help professionals better understand and cater to the needs of child victims, in line with the EU’s Victims’ Directive and the Council of Europe’s guidelines on child-friendly justice. For example, training lawyers or court workers to adequately inform and interview girls who have suffered abuse, or ensuring that girl victims of sexual violence are interviewed, whenever possible, by female professionals.From the scale of abuse revealed by FRA’s survey, it is clear that girls and young women need better protection. To help, FRA’s research points to some ways that should significantly alleviate the suffering of the many abused girls across Europe. These include dedicated support services and trained professionals, such as police, social workers, lawyers, prosecutors and judges, who can help girls seek justice.

FRA recognised for its outstanding work on combating violence against women

The Spanish Observatory against domestic and gender violence has awarded its prestigious annual prize to the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights for its outstanding work to help end violence against women. “For too long, violence against women was regarded as a private problem that should and could not be discussed in public, and women who were abused by their partners or by strangers were expected to suffer in silence,” said FRA Director Morten Kjaerum. “This is changing, thanks to the many developments in European society and in EU legislation and policy over the last few decades; but there is still a long way to go.” FRA has been awarded the prize this year for its efforts in fighting violence against women, notably for its work on the world’s biggest-ever survey on violence against women. The survey revealed the extent of abuse suffered by women at home, work, in public and online across the EU. The award ceremony took place on 14 October in Madrid in the presence of high-ranking representatives of the Spanish government. The Observatory is a government institution headed by the Spanish General Council of the Judiciary made up of representatives from the Spanish ministries of the interior, justice, equality, the State General Prosecutor, Spain’s general law council as well as the Spanish regions. This is the 10th time the prize has been awarded. FRA is sharing this year’s award with Thelma Aldana, the Attorney General of Guatemala, in recognition of her efforts to create an observatory on sexual violence and femicide in her country.

Closing the gap on gender-related violence among children

As the United Nations marks International Day of the Girl this week, a unique European Union-funded project is training professionals who work with children how to close the gap on gender-related violence.The two-year GAP WORK Project designed and ran free training workshops in Italy, Ireland, Spain and the UK to improve confidence in youth workers, teachers, social workers and nurses in challenging sexist, sexualising, homophobic, controlling or normative language and behaviour against and among young people.Led by academics from Brunel University London’s Centre for Youth Work Studies, the findings of the project will be presented to an audience of peers at Amnesty International UK’s headquarters in London on Friday 24th October.Dr Pam Alldred, Director of the Centre for Youth Work Studies, said: “This training explores an area in which we believe there to be a skills and knowledge gap among a range of professionals working with young people.“It’s about making sure young people don’t fall into a gap between children’s and adult victim support services, while bridging the gap between young people’s everyday experience with their peers and the identification of violence or abuse.“It’s challenging the values that sustain violence, as well as being able to refer those affected appropriately.“Professionals who have attended the workshops are expected to pass what they have learned onto colleagues. Our next step will be to evaluate the programme and consider how it can be used to reach new audiences and define future policy.”The training was delivered to 200 practitioners in each country. The UK team comprised an experienced youth worker, experienced UK lawyer and sexual health trainer. The project was co-funded through the EU’s DAPHNE programme to eradicate violence against women, children and other minorities.

FRA celebrates international convention to combat violence against women but says there’s still much work to do

FRA Director Morten Kjaerum participated in a conference to celebrate the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention, the Council of Europe’s convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
He began by stressing that the Istanbul Convention offers an entire region legally binding standards for the first time on combating violence against women, highlighting the fact that the Convention:
1) takes a multi-level approach to combating violence against women
2) focuses not just on cure but also on prevention
3) includes men and boys as crucial ‘ingredients’ in any policies or campaigns to combat violence against women.
“These and many other provisions in the Convention will in turn help towards the change in mentality we need in order to fight violence against women effectively and lastingly,” the Director said.Listing a number of findings from FRA’s violence against women survey of 42,000 women throughout the EU, he cited the fact that an estimated 13 million women in the EU had been victims of physical violence in the course of the 12 months prior to our survey.FRA’s Director then went on to emphasise the significance of the problem of cyberharassment, which the Agency’s findings have shown affect 20% of women in the EU between the ages of 18 and 29. In addition, he underlined the fact that the widespread prevalence of violence against women generates a sense of fear that stops women from living their lives freely.Two aspects of work that still urgently needs to be done in order to combat violence against women effectively and lastingly were mentioned. One of these is the necessity of establishing a multi-agency approach that establishes and enhances cooperation between the police, employers, doctors and other health professionals, as well as internet service providers. The second is the necessity of recognising the importance of gender equality in the debate on combating gender-based violence against women, and how important it is to include the role of men in the debate.“The role of men, not just as perpetrators of violence against women but also in society more broadly, obviously needs to be explored in more detail,” FRA’s Director said. “Above all we need a public debate stressing that hassling, harassing or hitting women is NOT attractive, it is NOT manly and it is NOT acceptable.”The speech ended by calling for a review of the implementation of the Istanbul Convention when enough time has elapsed. This would enable us to observe whether offences have decreased, police have become more sensitive to the issue of violence against women, and more men and boys are aware of the reasons behind and damaging effects of violence against women, leading to a long-term change in attitudes and greater gender equality across the board.

World Jewish Congress head voices concern about neo-Nazi party in Argentina

BUENOS AIRES/NEW YORK – The World Jewish Congress today voiced its concern about the recent official registration in Argentina of a neo-Nazi party, Bandera Vecinal, a status that allows the party to compete in the 2015 presidential elections. “This ugly party espouses the ideology and revels in the trappings of the Hitler regime, and it should be banned, shunned and isolated, not accepted into politics,” said World Jewish Congress President Ronald S. Lauder. Claudio Epelman, Executive Director of the Latin American Jewish Congress, the Argentine-based arm of WJC, said that the organization views with great concern the official approval received by Bandera Vecinal, which translates to “Local Flag” in English. The party’s leader, Alejandro Biondini, has publicly and repeatedly praised Adolf Hitler and Nazism and is frequently pictured giving the Nazi salute surrounded by swastikas, Epelman said. “It is troubling that an openly neo-Nazi party can arise in this country. It’s inconsistent with the culture of acceptance and diversity among the Argentine people, whose country served as refuge for victims of the Nazi regime, a regime Biondini reveres,” Epelman said. “We will monitor the activities and discourse of Biondini’s party and will denounce any hate speech and incitement of violence against any minority groups in our country.”

International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict and the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence

London. Four Nobel peace laureates, six survivors of sexual violence and actor Danai Gurira (“The Walking Dead”) are among the interviewees available to the media throughout the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in London from June 10-13.
They are leading a delegation of almost 90 activists – including grassroots women’s leaders from conflict countries – organised by the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict, the first and only global network of civil society organisations working to end sexual violence. This 700-member strong network brings together legal, medical and protection experts, as well as service providers and advocates.
Danai Gurira, American Actor, Star of The Walking Dead. Danai is an award-winning playwright who has penned numerous works that highlight the strength of African women overcoming war, poverty and disease. She is also star of the American hit series, The Walking Dead.
– Her specialist areas include the impact of armed conflict on women in Liberia, and the impact of dramatic arts education
Nobel Peace Laureates available for interview include: Leymah Gbowee, Liberia (language: English): Leymah united women across Liberia in a non-violence movement that lead to the end of the Liberian civil war. She is a trained trauma counsellor and outspoken activist activist against sexual violence as a tool of war.
– Her specialist topics include: peace-building in Liberia, reconciliation, trauma, counselling, and the impact of armed conflict on women in Liberia.
– She is delivering the keynote plenary at the Summit alongside William Hague and Angelina Jolie.
Jody Williams, USA (language: English/Spanish): Jody is a disarmament expert whose leadership forged the first global treaty banning landmines in 1997. She can also speak from the perspective of a survivor – in the 1980s she survived a politically motivated sexual attack by a member of El Salvador’s notorious death squad.Her specialist topics including sexual violence and disarmament.
Tawakkol Karman, Yemen (languages: English/Arabic): Tawakkol is known as the Mother of the Revolution for her role to promote the safety and participation of women in peacebuilding processes in Yemen.
– Her specialist subject areas include nonviolent resistance in Yemen, documenting human rights abuses, supporting women journalists.
Shirin Ebadi, Iran (Language: Farsi): Shirin Ebadi, one of the first female judges in Iran, is a strong advocate for the rights of women, children and political prisoners.Her specialist subject areas including justice, political prisoners in Iran and Women’s Rights in Iran.
Survivors of sexual violence available for interview include:
Hania Moheeb, Egypt (language English/Arabic): Hania survived a brutal politically-motivated sexual assault in Tahrir Square, an experience that catapulted her into the role of outspoken activist for justice.
– Her specialist subject areas include sexual violence in Egypt, supporting women journalists and documenting and reporting gender-based violence.
Amanda Lindhout, Canada (language English): In 2008 while working as a journalist in Somalia, Amanda was kidnapped and held hostage for over a year, surviving brutal attacks of sexual violence.
– Her specialist areas include sexual violence in Somalia and sexual violence against women journalists.
Esperance Kavira, Democratic Republic of the Congo (language; French): After her own harrowing experience with sexual violence at the hands of armed forces in Eastern DRC, Esperance is now an outspoken activist who is fighting for justice.
– Her specialist areas include sexual violence in DRC, medical needs of GBV survivors in DRC, impact of armed conflict on Women in DRC. Jineth Bedoya Lima, Colombia (Languages: Spanish): Jineth is an influential war and conflict journalist from Colombia who was kidnapped, tortured and sexually abused in 2000. Today she continues to seek justice, an end to impunity and support for other women victims in Colombia through her campaign, It is not Time to Be Silenced.
– Her specialist areas include sexual violence in Colombia, Judicial reform, seeking justice for GBV survivors.
Valentina Rosendo Cantu, Mexico (languages, Spanish): Valentina is an indigenous woman who was accosted by 8 soldiers while she was washing in a creek, aged 17. She was then forced to endure a difficult journey to justice, which subsequently resulted in Mexico being ordered by the Inter-American Court to end the use of military justice in cases where soldiers commit crimes against civilians.
– Her specialist areas include sexual violence in Mexico, seeking justice for GBV survivors, and military abuse of human rights in Mexico
Wangu Kanja, Kenya (languages: English): Carjacked and brutally assaulted, Wangu Kanja resiliently rose above her trauma and now supports survivors of sexual violence to access medical, psychological and legal redress.
– Her specialist areas include sexual violence in Kenya, medical and legal needs of GBV survivors in Kenya, preventing sexual violence in Kenya

International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict

London. Five Nobel peace laureates will be leading a delegation of almost 90 activists – including sexual violence survivors, grassroots women’s leaders from conflict countries and actor Danai Gurira (“Walking Dead”)—attending the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in London from June 10-13.
The delegation is organised by the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict, the first and only global network of civil society organizations working to end sexual violence. This 700-member strong network brings together legal, medical and protection experts, as well as service providers and advocates.
“We applaud the UK’s leadership in bringing governments together to build stronger political will for ending sexual violence,” says Jody Williams, Nobel peace laureates and co-chair of the International Campaign to Stop Rape & Gender Violence in Conflict. “This is a turning point in our decades-long struggle as civil society to stop rape and other forms of sexual violence—and to address the urgent needs of survivors and communities directly affected by sexual violence in conflict.”
Williams (USA) will be accompanied to the Summit by her sister Nobel peace laureates Leymah Gbowee (Liberia), Tawakkol Karman (Yemen), Shirin Ebadi (Iran) and Rigoberta Menchu Tum (Guatemala).
The Nobel peace laureates, along with US actor Danai Gurira, will be hosting two key events at the Summit:
· Wednesday, June 11, 18h30 – 20h30: Beauty in the Middle: Women of Congo Speak Out, a multi-media exhibit with images by award-winning photographer Pete Muller and featuring the voices the women of Congo speaking about their work through films by Artefact Creative.
· Thursday, June 12, 12h30 – 13h15: Launch of Survivors United for Action, the first-ever global network of sexual violence survivors focused on rape & gender violence in conflict.