vrouwenraad.be nvr@amazone.be info@vrouwenraad.be

1. Dutch-speaking Council of Women rue du Méridien 10 1210 Bruxelles BELGIUM www.vrouwenraad.be nvr@amazone.be info@vrouwenraad.be

2. The Council of Women • Who and what are we? • Umbrella organization of Dutch-speaking women associations • various philosophical and ideological backgrounds • Fight for equal opportunities for all women and men, • Achieve a gender balance in a multicultural society. . Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

3. Our activities? • To inform and to sensitize • To debate • To lobby Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

4. To inform and to sensitize We keep track of the current affairs in order to be able to improve the position of women and men in the multicultural society. Our channels of distribution: • website and newsletter • three-monthly magazine • hearings and conferences • press releases, publications, reports, files, points of view and recommendations Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

5. To debate With: • other social organizations • the authorities • the academic world • several lobby groups Through working groups, conferences, etc. and with attention for the diversity between women themselves. We look at the item from different angles. Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

6. To lobby The Council of Women advises and puts pressure on the policymakers: • defend our positions • try to get our demands on the political agenda • each minister has to take into account the implications of his or her policy on women and men • Watch follow-up and implementation: • resolutions of the UN-World Conferences of Women, • UN-Women’s Declaration of Rights • other international human rights instruments Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

7. Belgian policy on Violence against women (vaw) Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

8. 1.HISTORY • 2. POLICY - NAP violence against women - institutionalization • 3. RECENT EVOLUTIONS Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

9. History ‘70’s = first shelters Initiative from the feminist movement. From child abuse (innocent) to women's abuse (adults) Violence against women is seen as a result of the domination of the man against women. Women’s Victims should be helped by peers (women), and emancipated. 1990 shelters are officially recognized and subsidized. Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

10. 1986-2001 several first policy initiatives on VAW base on complaints and lobby of feminist groups. First socially recognized as a phenomena • 1. - different (victim) surveys to start to install a policy - sexual, physical violence AW (no man) - sexual harassment - violence against elderly Women - genital mutilation etc… Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

11. 2. Information, sensitization campaigns • 3. New laws en judicial instruments and assistance: - rape law 1989 (within marriages as well)- SAS – sexual aggression set , medical certificates- specialised police assistance- aide to sexual perpetrators- Sexual harassment (legal instruments and assistance tools) Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

12. 2. POLICY 2001: 1st action plan Sexual Violence, violence within couples, Violence at work, Women trafficking 2001-2004: 2nd action plan - all governments - only violence between couples 2008 : 3rd federal action plan (based on evaluation by the institute ). Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

13. 2010: fourth Belgian action plan 122‘Coordinated’ actions of all the governmentsand all institutes on - violence between partners - honour crimes - forced marriage - female genital mutilation  not only in the Belgian territory: international Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

14. 2002 : Creationof anindependent federal institution specifically dealing with gender matters (incl VAW). • VAW Integrated as a priority in the National Security Plan • VAW Integrated in the policy documents of minister of justice, IA and equality Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

15. 3. Recent evolution • Guidelines 2006 • Directives and description of role of every partner, Action plan of each public prosecutor • Specialized coordinators in the police and justice departments • Offering immediate protection to victims and treatment for offenders= structural collaboration with other professionals Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be

16. Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be • Immediate response and keeping contact (within 24 h) + follow up • Direct judicial response in severe cases • Standard & automatic registration of violence complaint • Victims get clear and accessible info • Compiling all registrations of one family

17. Attention points for the future Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be Professional secrecy (social services/doctors/police/prisons) More complete and sufficient training for police and justice especially on the risk assessment tools Need of computerized monitoring systems

18. Attention points for the future Council of Women - rue du Méridien 10 - 1210 Brussels (Belgium) www.vrouwenraad.be Standard checklist for police to be used for registration (obligatory) Treatment of offenders + (close) consultation between police and social workers + efficient risk management Protection order with compulsory measures and therapy