The Nova Earth Society believes that it’s up to us to create a world that works. It has taken up the drive for gender equality as one project in what it hopes will be many aimed at creating a world that works.
Countries Commit to Ending Violence Against Women and Girls
Say No. Unite to End Violence Against Women and Girls
http://saynotoviolence.org/commit
Jamaica commits to ratify the Optional Protocol to CEDAW and implement national plan to end gender-based violence
The Government of Jamaica has joined UN Women’s COMMIT initiative and pledged to sign and ratify the Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). Furthermore, as a matter of priority, the government has committed to implement the National Strategic Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
Japan commits to take concrete actions along with a national plan to end and prevent violence against women and girls
Japan commits to take concrete actions along with the Third Basic Plan for Gender Equality which incorporates policy measures to end and prevent violence against women and girls. The Plan places its priority on the “elimination of all forms of violence against women” and recommends related Ministries to implement concrete policy measures.
As well as awareness raising and educational campaign, Japan has implemented concrete measures which include the following in line with the plan: the establishment of a help desk service for survivors of sexual crimes and access to female police officers in such cases; the establishment of Juvenile and Women Aegis Teams in police headquarters nationwide working exclusively to identify persons showing signs of possible sexual abuse such as accosting and stalking, and to mitigate such cases; provision of funds for required urgent contraception to survivors of sexual crimes as well as construction of police and obstetrician-gynecologists network; prevention of second offense by interviewing, if the need arises, those who have served time for violent sex crimes to children and were released from prison; implementation of an automated voice response service to direct survivors of domestic violence to announce the closest consultation service or Spousal Violence Counseling and Support Center; and human rights counseling services provided by the Human Rights Organs of the Ministry of Justice, including the establishment of a “Women’s Rights Hotline”.
Japan also contributes to international cooperation in tackling various challenges including violence, through both bilateral and multilateral schemes which aim at promoting protection and empowerment of vulnerable women and girls, based on human security.
Australia commits to a zero tolerance approach to domestic violence and sexual abuse
The Australian Government is committed to a zero tolerance approach to domestic violence and sexual abuse, under the current National Plan to Reduce Violence against Women and their Children. Australia has released the National Implementation Plan and key initiatives include the following: A public campaign, The Line, aimed at encouraging young people to develop respectful relationships, andeducation projects being implemented in every state and territory in school and non-school settings to prevent sexual assault and domestic violence. Community Action Grants will support local community action to reduce violence against women, and for sporting clubs to establish zero tolerance programs in local clubs. The White Ribbon Workplaces Project is promoting safe workplaces for women, and the Safe at Home, Safe at Work toolkit for workers experiencing domestic violence has been published to help people remain in work, and provide details of where to get professional help and support. The government has launched the National Sexual Assault and Domestic and Family Violence Telephone and Online Counselling Service: www.1800RESPECT.org.au. Through another programme, DV-alert, for health, allied health and Indigenous health workers will be trained to recognise and respond to domestic violence. A National Centre of Excellence will facilitate and coordinate research activity into domestic and family violence and sexual assault to inform policy and programs.
Austria commits to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women
Austria commits to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CAHVIO) by the end of 2013 and use gender responsive budgeting practices when developing national budgets, including for justice and security sectors.
Belarus commits to combat trafficking in persons and domestic violence
Belarus commits to implement a new law to combat trafficking in persons and provide financial assistance to civil society organizations providing assistance to survivors of trafficking. Under the Fourth State Programme on Combating Trafficking in Persons, Illegal Migration and Related Criminal Activities, Belarus will focus on prevention of trafficking in persons, prosecution of perpetrators and implementation of measures to ensure the fundamental right of victims of trafficking to live free of violence. Furthermore, under the current National Plan for Gender Equality and the Law on Crime Prevention, Belarus will implement concrete measures to address and prevent domestic violence and develop a new law to counter domestic violence. During the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence, Belarus has launched a nationwide public awareness and educational campaign ‘A house without violence’ aimed at preventing domestic violence. The first stage of this campaign is promoting the recently launched toll-free hotline for victims of domestic violence. The Government of Belarus commits to develop a comprehensive national system of response to gender violence, which will include increased number of crisis rooms and improved medical, social and legal services for survivors and measures to combat male aggressive behavior.
Denmark marks the International Day to End Violence against Women by making the following commitments
Denmark will place special focus on violence against young women. We will initiate a national debate on how to eliminate attitudes and behaviours that condone violence, address the root causes and risk factors and focus on preventing “dating violence” by addressing gender stereotypes and promote respectful relationships and to raise awareness between girls and boys, women and men. We have launched a new study documenting best practices and efforts that have worked in changing attitudes, norms and practices.
Some 1.4 % women are victims of domestic violence in Denmark. Up to 28,000 children live in homes where domestic violence occurs, and one in ten young women under the age of 24 have been abused by a partner. Denmark commits to continue its efforts and implement targeted activities to bring down the number of victims of domestic violence. Through its new Equal Futures Partnership programme Denmark has initiated a project that will run until the end of 2013, to increase awareness of violence in the family and train civil servants and front line staff in municipalities to detect signs of violence and address them.
Denmark is committed to ensuring inclusive policies and strategies to eliminate other forms of violence against all women and girls, for example, women with disabilities, indigenous women, migrant women, adolescent girls, and honor related crimes. We will continue our efforts to implement legislative and policy measures and establish the necessary institutional mechanisms to support victims of human trafficking and ensure prosecution of traffickers.
The Dominican Republic commits to expand and strengthen programmes to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls
The Dominican Republic commits to take concrete actions to increase the efficiency and effectiveness of all its national plans, projects and programmes targeting violence against women and girls. Announcing the country’s support for the UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women campaign, the President signed a Declaration of Commitment of Institutions that integrates the National Commission on the Prevention and Struggle against Domestic Violence (CONAPLUVI). The Dominican Republic commits to reform criminal prosecutions and prevention policies so as to ensure greater access to justice for women, and sets a concrete deadline of December 2013 for the establishment of a more efficient criminal complaints system to address violence against women and girls. The Dominican Republic further commits to strengthen its public health policies and plans, expand and improve prevention programmes as well as gender and human rights education in all institutions of the State. The Ministry of Women has launched a new national campaign “You can: Unite Now to End Violence against Women” to raise awareness and publicize a 24-hour hotline established for women at risk of domestic violence. The Government of Dominican Republic has also launched the new “Men promise: fewer every day until we reach zero” public awareness campaign for men, with the end goal of halving the country’s rate of Femicide.
Finland commits to improve women’s access to justice
Finland commits to improve women’s access to justice by ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (CAHVIO) by 2013, and by implementing the Cross-Sectoral Action Plan to Reduce Violence against Women by 2015. Finland further commits to reform the Legislation on Sexual Offences by 2015 to ensure the realization of the right to sexual self-determination.
France commits to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and passes new law
France commits to ratify, at the earliest possible opportunity, the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. It has passed a new sexual harassment law and conducted an information campaign targeting harassment in the workplace. On 30 November 2012, France will also launch a national anti-violence strategy, which includes a public awareness campaign, education to ensure that young people learn the principles of respect and equality from an early age, and a professional training programme. A dedicated national body will be created to monitor the progress of the gender-based violence response programme.
Germany commits to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women
Germany commits to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention to Prevent and Combat Violence against Women and Domestic Violence by taking the following steps: improve data collection on gender based violence in 2012; establish a national hotline number to report violence against women by 2013; develop a national monitoring concept to assess the results of all policy measures to protect women from violence by 2014; eliminate unequal pay between men and women; and develop a National Action Plan to implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 by the end of 2012.
Greece commits to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women
Greece commits to ratify and implement the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CAHVIO). Furthermore, Greece intends to take the following measures to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls: creation of nine counselling centres at the regional and 27 at the local level aiming at providing psychosocial and legal support, as well as upgrading of the existing infrastructure; awareness raising campaigns and dissemination of information materials in various languages; continuing training of social counsellors; creation of 21 shelters for abused women and their children; mainstreaming of gender-responsive policies in government action.
Poland commits to ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
Poland commits to ratifying the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CAHVIO) by harmonizing Polish law with the requirements of the Convention in all aspects regarding prevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence, mainly focusing on education, appropriate data collection and victim support. In particular, Poland commits to changing the criminal code so that all rape cases are persecuted ex officio and criminal proceedings are no longer wholly dependent on the victim’s complaint.
The Republic of Korea Commits to strengthen prosecution of violence against women, improve protection for survivors and implement education programmes
The Republic of Korea commits to take the following actions in its effort to prevent and combat violence against women and children. Under the laws to prevent sexual violence and protect victims of sexual assaults, the Government of the Republic of Korea will continue to conduct research on gender-based violence and incorporate the findings into developing national action plans to prevent violence against women and protect the victims. In 2013, the Republic of Korea will implement education programmes in public organizations to prevent sexual violence, enforce education programmes for prevention of sexual harassment and prostitution, as well as implement human rights education for children. It further commits to make constant efforts for the prevention of sexual crimes by toughening punishment of such crimes, expanding rehabilitation programmes, and by enabling police officers to arrest an offender of domestic violence without a warrant. The Republic of Korea commits to continuously promote policies for the protection of victims through provision of medical and legal services and by extending the period of stay in shelters for survivors.