The
full text of The National VAW Monitor will be available at http://www.stopvaw.org/The_VAW_Monitor.html.
The
full text of The National VAW Monitor will be available at http://www.stopvaw.org/The_VAW_Monitor.html.
STOPVAW Website
News |
Expert’s Corner: Montenegro Draft Law
on Domestic Violence, Comments by Genoveva
Tisheva
Genoveva Tisheva, Managing
Director of the Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation, has reviewed and
commented on the Montenegro Draft Law on the Protection from Violence in
the Family (More
information) |
Expert’s Corner: Montenegro
Draft Law on Domestic Violence, Comments by
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What is
Domestic Violence? Training Module Now Available in
South-Slavic
Translations of What is
Domestic Violence? Training Module is Available in South-Slavic (More
information) |
Updated International Law Section: UN
Documents That Protect Women’s Human
Rights
As of February 2006, this
section of the STOPVAW website has been updated. (More
information) |
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National
VAW Monitor Program |
Armenia National VAW Monitor
Contribution
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What’s New: Violence exists in
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Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Trafficking: The Court Assisted the Pimps (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Trafficking: Documentary Film Highlights Trafficking of
Children From Armenia (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Trafficking: Hetq.am Banned in the Emirates (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Trafficking: Armenians Arrested in Dubai (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Trafficking: Anti-trafficking Efforts in Armenia (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Trafficking: Anti-trafficking Efforts in Armenia – 2 (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Trafficking: Sex exchange-- Armenian women did prostitution in
the Emirates, Uzbek women in Armenia (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Trafficking: Armenian prostitutes in Turkey (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Domestic Violence: A murder in Chambarak town (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Domestic Violence: Husband murdered his wife (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Domestic Violence: An extract from the article “Criminal
mosaic of the end of the year” (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Domestic Violence: Extract from the article “Vanadzor town
incidents” (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Domestic Violence: An intimate affair (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Sexual Assault: Rape (More
information) ·
Stories and Mass Media
Monitoring: Sexual Assault: A rape attempt in Idjevan town (More
information) ·
What’s New: Hope and Help (More
information) ·
What’s New: Mass Media
Monitoring Results for January 2006 (More
information) |
Azerbaijan National VAW Monitor
Contribution
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What’s New: Former Baku
Resident Was Forcing His Countrywomen into the Prostitution in the U.S. (More
information) ·
Contribution to Legislative
Trends Page: Law on Trafficking in Persons (More
information) ·
What’s New: State Committee on
Women’s Issues transformed to the Committee on Family, Women and Children
(More
information) ·
What’s New: Anti-Trafficking
Network Established in Azerbaijan (More
information) |
Bulgaria National VAW Monitor
Contribution
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Research and Reports: U.S.
Department of State Trafficking Report (More
information) |
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Montenegro National VAW Monitor
Contribution
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What’s New: Concluding
observations of the ICESCR (More
information) |
Poland National VAW Monitor
Contribution
·
What’s New: Resuscitation of
Democracy in Poland
(More information) ·
What’s New: Summing Up the
"Overcome Violence" Campaign (More
information) ·
What’s New: National Monitoring
System of Equal Treatment of Women and Men (More
information) ·
What’s New: Counteraction
Violence in Close Relations Bill Passed and Enacted (More
information) ·
What’s New: NGOs Write a Letter
to the Prime Minister (More
information) ·
What’s New: Gender Index EQUAL
Project Launched in Poland (More
information) ·
What’s New: Cancellation of the
Government Plenipotentiary for Equal Status of Women and Men (More
information) ·
Research and Reports: Violence
and Conflicts at Home, Poles on the Phenomenon of Trafficking in Women,
Women, Children and the Law in Poland: Protection or Barrier?, Victims of
Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000: Trafficking in Persons
Report (More
information) ·
What’s New: Polish Women Face
New Political Reality (More
information) |
Tajikistan National VAW Monitor
Contribution
·
What’s New: Conference in
Kulyaba: “Our Choice Is Life Without Violence” (More
information) ·
What’s New: Abused Women
Receive Help at Crisis Center (More
information) ·
What’s New: A roundtable
discussion of violence against women (More
information) ·
What’s New: Tajikistan Budget
of 2006 Supports Grants to Women (More
information) ·
What’s New: Two Hundred Thirty
Traffic-Related Crimes Documented in Tajikistan This Year (More
information) ·
What’s New: Virtually 90% of
Labor Migrants Are Subject to Some Forms of Trafficking (More
information) |
Ukraine National VAW Monitor
Contribution
·
What’s New: Round table held on
“Violence in Ukrainian Families; Ways to Solve the Problem on Governmental
and Non-governmental Levels” (More
information) ·
What’s New: Survey among governmental and NGO
professionals about implementation of domestic violence law (More
information) |
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International and Regional
News |
Call for Daphne
Proposals
The 2006 call for Daphne II
Programme proposals suggesting projects to eliminate
violence against vulnerable groups has been
announced. The Daphne II Program works with
other non-governmental organizations in cooperation with the European
Union to advocate support for organizations that prevent and
combat violence against at-risk groups, such as children and women.
Submission deadline for proposals is 10 February 10 2006. (More
information) |
European Women's Lobby Releases Gender
Equality Roadmap
The European Women's Lobby has
released its "Gender Equality Roadmap for the European Community
2006-2010." The Roadmap will serve as a model for the European
Commission's official communication on gender equality put forward at the
beginning of 2006. (More
information) |
EU Passes Resolution on
Trafficking
The European Union passed a
resolution concerning the rising trend of trafficking of women and
children. The resolution recognizes the contributions of
international human rights documents, EU reports and
communications, and international conventions, conferences, and
action plans in creating the body of the resolution. (More
information) |
Call for NGO Input on 2006 Trafficking
in Persons Report
A call for NGO input on the
2006 Trafficking in Persons report produced by the U.S. Department of
State has been made by Ambassador John R. Miller, director of the
Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons. A
questionnaire, including four sections labeled General Law Enforcement,
Health-Related Issues, Prevention of Trafficking, Victim Assistance and
Protection, has been sent to NGOs working on issues of trafficking, and is
due to the State Department by 1 March 1 2006. (More
information) |
The International Criminal Court: A
Model for Gender Integration
On January 26, 2006, three more
women were elected to the bench of the International Criminal Court (ICC),
bringing the total number of women |
50th Session of the Commission on the
Status of Women
From 27 February to 10
March 2006, the Commission on the Status of Women will hold its 50th
session at UN headquarters in New York. This year, the two thematic
issues are enhanced participation of women in development, and equal
participation of women and men in decision-making processes at all
levels. (More
information) |
European Parliament Adopts Resolution
to Combat Violence Against Women
Responding to the Parliament’s
Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality, the European Parliament
adopted a resolution that sets a minimum standard of protection for women
in the European Union. In adopting the resolution, the European Parliament
has called on Member States to implement the recommendations to combat and
prevent violence against women. (More
information) |
UN Micro-credit Project Helps Women in
Rural Areas
Initiated by the Tajik
government and supported by the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP), the local Women in Development bureau is providing assistance to
rural women through training and micro-credits. In an effort to
tackle the issue of poverty, UNDP launched its micro-credits programme in
1997 for rural women. The project is aimed at promoting rural
entrepreneurship and working on the issue of unemployment and sustainable
livelihoods. UNDP’s programme on community development in Tajikistan is
currently working in 30 districts of the former Soviet republic and has
distributed loans worth some $3 million, with around 40,000 beneficiaries,
of whom some 30 percent are women. (More
information) |
UN Circulates Draft Proposal For New
Human Rights Council
A draft resolution for the
establishment of a new U.N. Human Rights Council circulated among the 191
U.N. member states earlier this month. The Human Rights Council is
intended to replace the Human Rights Commission, whose members have
included some of the worst human rights violators, including Sudan and
Libya. (More
information) |
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National
News |
Macedonia to Present Report to
CEDAW
At the January 16 -
February 3 session of the Committee to Eliminate Discrimination
against Women, Macedonia will present its country report at the
United Nations headquarters in New York City. (More
information) |
Kosovo Domestic Abuse Shelter Tries to
Overcome Huge Barriers
As the only domestic abuse
shelter in Kosovo, Liria faces massive cultural and financial
challenges. In addition to the task of challenging deeply-held
cultural norms, Liria currently faces a financial crisis as funders refuse
to dispense promised funds. (More
information) |
U.S. President Bush Signs Trafficking
Bill into Law
On January 10, President Bush
signed legislation that will provide $360 million over two years to
the fight against human trafficking in the US and abroad. Funds
from the bill will be used to contribute to knowledge on the subject
as well as for providing assistance to victims. (More
information) |
Update on NGOs in
Russia
President Putin signs
controversial NGO legislation into law; British Ambassador denies charges
on NGOs; Public Chamber calls for restraint with NGOs; NGO Activist to
file lawsuit; Police detail rights activists. (More
information) |
Albania: A Step Forward for Justice
for Women
Amnesty International welcomes
recent initiatives to introduce legislation in Albania to prevent violence
against the family and to protect victims of such violence. On 23
January 2006 a coalition of Albanian non governmental organizations
(NGOs), led by the Citizen’s Advocacy Organization and including the main
Albanian women and children’s NGOs, presented a draft law on the
prevention of violence within the family to the legislative commission of
the Albanian parliament by citizens’ petition. (More
information) |
Ukraine Adopts Amendments to Criminal
Code Criminalizing Trafficking
It was reported that today, the
Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (parliament) adopted amendments to Article 149
of the Criminal Code of Ukraine, which criminalizes trafficking in human
beings. The amendments were adopted by way of 270 votes in favour. (More
information) |
Bosnia and Herzegovina Signs
Trafficking Convention
Bosnia and Herzegovina has
signed the Trafficking Convention of the European Council. (More
information) |
NGO State Registration Fees Reduced in
Kazakhstan
Beginning January 1, 2006,
Kazakhstan reduced the state registration fees for all legal entities,
including NGOs. Kazakhstani NGOs, which had been paying
the equivalent of $146 in registration fees, will now pay the reduced
rate registration rate of $57. (More
information) |
Laws of Moldova, Bulgaria, and Ukraine
Now Available
The Bulgarian Law on Combating
the Illegal Trafficking in Human Beings, the Moldovan Draft Law
on the Prevention and Combating of Trafficking in Human Beings, and the
Ukrainian Law on Amendments to the Criminal Code of Ukraine Criminalizing
Trafficking in Persons are all now available on Legislationline.org. (More
information) |
Call for Comments on the Montenegro
Draft Law on Protection from Violence in
Family
In January of 2006, a draft
version of the law, entitled “Law on Protection of Domestic Violence,” was
circulated amongst local NGOs in Montenegro and international
organizations abroad, seeking comments or suggestions for improving and
strengthening the law. The domestic violence law is expected to pass
in June of 2006. (More
information) |
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Kyrgyz Police Halt Flight to U.A.E. on
Trafficking Suspicion
Security forces in Osh,
Kyrgyzstan, stopped a charter flight to the United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.)
on the evening of 13 February, akipress.org reported. The women were
removed from the flight and an investigation is ongoing. (More
information) |
Moldova Passes Gender Equality
Law
On 9 February 2006, the
Moldovan parliament passed a law in the final reading which requires
gender equality in public and private sectors. The law
guarantees equality of access for both men and women to governmental posts
as well as private sector employment. (More
information) |
Supreme Court Will Rule on Domestic
Violence Case
In April of this year, the
United States Supreme Court will hear oral arguments in Dixon v. United
States, a case involving a woman who invokes battered women’s syndrome as
a defense to a conviction for the illegal purchase of firearms.
Dixon claims that fear for her life and that of her two daughters led her
to purchase seven guns for her boyfriend, an ex-felon. (More
information) |
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New Research and
Reports |
Danish Red Cross Releases Report on
Trafficking
The Danish Red Cross has
released an extensive study entitled "Good Practices in Responses to
Trafficking in Human Beings: Cooperation Between Civil Society and
Law Enforcement in Europe." The report seeks to identify the
different aspects of trafficking and examine their implications
for appropriate and effective practices. (More
information) |
Take Back The News: Four Sisters
Confront the Rape Epidemic
February 13th marks the launch
of Take Back The News’ new website, www.takebackthenews.org. Take
Back the News works to raise public awareness about the epidemic of rape,
in order to foster greater public dialogue and ultimately greater public
responsibility. The new site reflects the incorporation and revamp
of this anti-rape organization, including the formation of a Media
Response Project to streamline communications with media outlets, and the
distribution of free Community Print Project Kits that college activist
groups can use to gather and publish rape survival stories. (More
information) |
UNESCAP Announces Two Gender-Related
Papers
The United Nations
Economic and Social Commission for |
Azerbaijani Security Official Reports
on Human Trafficking
Azerbaijani Deputy Interior
Minister Vilayat Eyvazov, the senior official responsible to combat human
trafficking, reported on 2 February that police have arrested 269
individuals on charges of human trafficking, Turan reported. (More
information) |
Responding to Violence against Women
in Europe: Special Issue of Entre Nous - The European Magazine for Sexual
and Reproductive Health
This special issue, "Responding
to Violence against Women," in Entre Nous - The European Magazine for
Sexual and Reproductive Health (No 61) is published by the WHO Regional
Office for Europe and the United Nations Family Planning Association. (More
information) |
The World’s Women 2005 Released by
United Nations Statistics Division
This unique report issued by
the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs' Statistics
Division presents sex disaggregated statistics on such topics as health,
demographics, education, work, violence against women, poverty, human
rights and decision-making. As the fourth World's Women report
issued since 1991, this edition attempts to address some of the
concerns raised in previous reports regarding the availability
of national statistics on gender. (More
information) |
Screening Study for Domestic
Violence
According to a recent study
published in BMC Family Practice, “How and why community hospital
clinician document a positive screen for intimate partner violence: a
cross-sectional study,” nearly one-third of primary care providers do not
record a patient’s disclosure of domestic violence on their medical
charts. (More
information) |
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Subscribe to The VAW
Monitor |
The VAW
Monitor is a free, monthly newsletter sent out on the first of each month.
Printable versions of The VAW Monitor are also available on the website at
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To subscribe to The VAW
Monitor, please fill out the form provided at http://www.stopvaw.org/The_VAW_Monitor.html. |
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About
STOPVAW |
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The Stop Violence
Against Women website (STOPVAW) is a forum for information,
advocacy and change. Minnesota Advocates for Human
Rights developed this website as a tool for the
promotion of women's human rights in the countries of Central and Eastern
Europe (CEE) and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS),
Mongolia, and the U.N. Protectorate of Kosovo. STOPVAW was
developed with support from and in consultation with the United
Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Open Society
Institute's Network Women's Program. This site addresses violence against
women as one of the most pervasive human rights abuses
worldwide. STOPVAW provides women's rights advocates with information
and advocacy tools focused on ending the most endemic forms of
violence against women in the region, including domestic violence, sexual
assault, sexual harassment and trafficking in
persons. Current staff members of Minnesota Advocates for
Human Rights involved with the development of STOPVAW include Mary Hunt, Laura Nelson, Rosalyn
Park, For more information about STOPVAW,
please contact the Website Administrator at stopvaw@mnadvocates.org.
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