JINHA

NEWS CENTER- Ahead of the occasion of the International Day for the elimination of violence against women, European Commission made a statement on November 24,2015 in Brussels.

Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the Commission, Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, Neven Mimica, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Christos Stylianides, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, and V?ra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, made statement.

They said, "Ahead of the occasion of the International Day for the elimination of violence against women, we join our voices to put an end to violence against women and girls. We strongly condemn all forms of violence against women and girls."

The figures are alarming

One in three women in the EU has experienced some form of gender-based violence in their lives. Too many girls are married or mutilated in childhood within our borders and beyond. In many countries, over half of murdered women are killed by an intimate partner, a relative or family member, in their own homes. They are also very vulnerable to all forms of violence in conflict areas and during humanitarian crises.

Women Refugees in Europe

This year, we should pay special attention to the growing numbers of women seeking refuge or asylum in the EU. Some have been raped, beaten or sexually exploited during their journey, while others flee gender-based violence in their home countries. They are arriving in Europe in need of gender-sensitive support, which we must provide.

The violence agains women in conflict

Another form of violence that targets most specifically women and girls is sexual violence in conflict. As we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of the UN Security Council's milestone Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security, the EU and the international community must intensify their efforts to eliminate all such forms of violence and bring the perpetrators to justice.

A new Gender Action Plan

As from January 2016, a new Gender Action Plan 2016-2020 for EU external relations, endorsed by the Council, will be applied. Fighting against all forms of violence against women and girls is one of the priority objectives. In an effort to raise awareness, the European External Action Service has recently launched a diplomatic outreach with a focus on all forms of violence against children and women and in particular to end child, early and forced marriage and female genital mutilation.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

Today, the Berlaymont building is lit in orange in support of the '16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence' campaign of the UN Secretary General.
The EU is firmly committed to strengthen its efforts in order to make gender-based violence a problem of the past.

European Commission made public The ATTITUDES TOWARDS VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IN THE EU which was prepared by Enrique Gracia and Marisol Lila from University of Valencia.

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