Combating violence against women through awareness raising and specialist service provision Companies for Social Change Stopping GBV
European Conference
WOMEN
AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE
Network Action to Combat Violence against Women and Children in Europe
Structure of presentation
o o o o o o o
About WAVE Violence against women Violence against women figures Poverty risks of women affected by violence Specialist services for women victims of violence WAVE research on specialist services in Europe What can employers do?
WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
About WAVE
o Network of women’s organizations (more than 100 in 46 European countries) o Strengthen the feminist anti-violence movement in Europe o Aims to provide a platform for stakeholders to form alliances o Annual program: research, conference, training, study visits, among others
WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
Violence against women - definitions o IC: violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women and shall mean all acts of gender-based violence that result in, or are likely to result in, physical, sexual, psychological or economic harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life o Coercion or coercive control: use of force or intimidation to obtain compliance, force or the power to use force in gaining compliance: o Ongoing rather than sporadic o “The primary harm abusive men inflict is political, not physical, and reflects the deprivation of rights and resources that are critical to personhood and citizenship…the key dynamic [of coercive control] involves an objective state of subordination and resistance women [must] mount to free themselves of domination.” o Economic abuse, male privilege, coercion and threats, intimidation, emotional abuse, isolation, minimizing, denying, blaming, using children… WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
Violence against women - figures
o 2014 European Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Survey o 1 in 3 women experienced physical and/or sexual violence in lifetime
o 62 million women in the European Union o Prevalence of forms of violence and consequences (physical, sexual, psychological, stalking, sexual harassment); childhood violence; fear of victimization including characteristics of victims and perpetrators; fear of victimization and impact; attitudes and awareness.
WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
Poverty risks of women affected by violence
o Aim to show that violence greatly increases a woman‘s risk to live in poverty o Economic security needed to live a meaningful life o General poverty risks: single women and elderly single women, single mothers o Employed women earn less than men o Lower unemployment benefits and retirement pensions o Negative economic consequencs during and following divorce o Unpaid care duties o Lack of childcare places
WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
Poverty risks of women affected by violence
o Violence has negative effect on physical and mental health that might lead to loss of employment o Long sick leave o Decreased concentration o Single mothers may have a harder time finding work o Women victims of violence may be long-term unemployed o Lack of public awareness about VAW o Employers or colleagues may perceive decreased performance as personal deficit o IPV may continue into the workplace
WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
Legislative efforts - Spain o Spanish Organic Law on Gender-Based Violence 2004 o Comprehensive Act o Guiding principle: „Establish the rights of women suffering gender violence…“ o Title II: Rights o Rights: Information, Integrated Social Assistance, Free Legal Assistance and Legal Aid, Employment Area, Economic Support Measures o Rights in the Employment Area: o Reduction or re-organization of working hours, change of workplace, suspension of employment and receipt of unemployment benefits o Covers self-employed victims as well (to cease certain contractual obligations) o Specific employment program – specialist support for victims registered as seeking work
WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
Specialist services for victims of violence o Women‘s helplines: o 24/7 and free of charge o Multilingual support o Operate nationally, trained staff o Cover all forms of VAW o Advice, support, referral to other services o Women‘s shelters: o 1 shelter place per 10,000 inhabitants o Immediate and safe accommodation for women, women with children o Non-residential services, safety precautions o Women‘s centres: o Information, advice, counseling, practical support, court accompaniment, legal assistance/aid… o Variety of service provision
WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
Specialist services figures – WAVE Report
WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
Specialist services figures – WAVE Report o WAVE Reports 2008-2015 o In 2013, WAVE Report included case studies – stories from women o IPV most common among women seeking specialist support o Level of support differs among countries o Lack of financial independence or lack of support from family members o Economic abuse is a common part of IPV o Women are not always aware of services available o In 2015, WAVE report included data on national women‘s helplines, women‘s shelters, women‘s centres, women‘s networks, prevention (e.g. campaigns), training (e.g. of professionals), policy and funding, emergency barring orders, perpetrator programs o Women‘s helplines o Women‘s shelters
WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
Specialist services figures – WAVE Report o Women‘s helplines o 46 countries of Europe – 17 helplines free of charge and 24/7 o In 28 EU MS – 10 helplines free of charge and 24/7 o FRA survey points to victims‘ need for advice and information, and information about services o Trends: Data on helplines are quite dynamic/fluid year to year, establishment of new helplines thanks to Istanbul Convention, regional helplines as opposed to national, helplines on family violence as opposed to VAW o Women‘s shelters o 46 countries of Europe – 47,500 places missing / 80,000 places needed o In 28 EU MS - 19,500 places missing / 50,700 places needed o Trends: new shelters open, but also close, yet better awareness; reclassification of shelters due to Istanbul Convention; access may be difficult for some; still long way to go WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
What can employers do? o Know relevant legislation (e.g. domestic violence, sexual violence, civil protection orders, specific legislation related to VAW and employment) in order to inform women
o Become aware of the nature of violence against women and the personal consequences, and how these impact employment o Become aware of specialist services (e.g. women‘s helplines, counselling centres) to be able to refer women to seek help o Invite women‘s NGOs working in the field of preventing and combatting VAW to inform employers and employees about violence and how to recognize it
WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE - WAVE
Thank you!
WOMEN
AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE
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