WUNRN
We are addressing you with a plea to support Slovak NGOs who
have submitted a joint public comment on the proposed National Action Plan for
Prevention and Elimination of Violence against Women for years 2009-2012 (NAP)
drafted by the Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family of the Slovak
Republic.
The NGOs consider the draft in its current
version an inadequate framework for tackling the issue of violence against
women effectively and have therefore proposed more than 40 changes in order to
achieve its improvement. More than 1,300 Slovak citizens have supported the
joint public comment so far.
NGOs filed the public comment with a view
to achieving incorporation of important changes, which could bring about
long-term and comprehensive solutions, into the document. Among other things,
the NGOs propose amendment of the Police Forces Act that would prolong the
current 48-hour period, which the police is authorized to expel the violent
person from the shared home for.
The lack of specific support services for
women experiencing violence is yet another serious problem. This fact is not
sufficiently reflected in the proposed NAP. The NGOs therefore propose
a number of practical measures to ensure specific support services for
women experiencing violence and their sufficient funding. The NGOs also
consider it necessary to make free-of-charge legal counselling available to
women experiencing violence and to address the fact that women experiencing
violence are often exposed to poverty as a consequence of violence more
consistently.
The NGOs comments also aim to improve the
support services via training of all relevant professions (the police, social
workers, physicians, psychologists, etc.). Insufficient knowledge of these
professionals on violence against women then results in situations when,
instead of support, women face rejection and misunderstanding.
Adequate prevention is also crucial for
tackling the issue of violence effectively. Prevention must be accompanied by
active and responsible participation of the media. However, the media often
depict violence against women insensitively and spread a lot of gender
stereotypes about masculinity and feminity. Therefore, the NGOs propose
legislative changes in order to achieve that the media have an obligation to
promote zero tolerance of violence and gender equality principles.
All the NGOs’ comments reflect the
international standards for protection of women’s human rights and the general
human rights principles. Even though the NGOs submitted their proposals to the
Ministry in the early stages of drafting this strategic document, most of them
have not been taken into consideration. The NGOs believe that, by accepting the
comments, the Ministry will send a message to the public that it takes its
responsibilities in the field of gender equality and women’s human rights
seriously.
It is important for us that the Slovak
government realizes the importance of an equal partner dialogue between NGOs
and the Slovak government. It is equally important that the government acknowledges
the experience and expertise of women’s NGOs in the field of prevention and
elimination of violence against women. We believe that your support of our
efforts to achieve passing of a quality NAP reflecting international
standards and obligations of the Slovak government, as well as the actual needs
of women experiencing violence and their children will contribute to a genuine
and equal dialogue between NGOs and the Slovak government.
If you wish to support us, please use this
link to create a new e-mail, copy the following simple
form and paste it into the email body, fill-in your data and send the e-mail to
the pre-filled address.
Form to be copied, filled in and sent to us by e-mail:
"I hereby confirm that I support Slovak NGOs in their
initiative, which began on 19 March 2009, connected to submitting a joint
public comment on the draft of the National Action Plan for Prevention and
Elimination of Violence against Women for years 2009-2011, pr epared by the
Ministry of Labour, Social Affairs and Family.
Name and Surname:
Institution (not required):
Street:
City:
Country:
Email:
I agree/don´t agree with making my support public."
The public comment was filed by the following NGOs:
Možnosť voľby - Pro Choice
Slovakia (www.moznostvolby.sk)
Záujmové združenie žien Fenestra –
Fenestra (www.fenestra.sk)
Občan a demokracia - Citizen and
Democracy span> (www.oad.sk)
Pro Familia – Pro Familia (www.profamilia.sk)
Prvé
lesbické združenie Museion - First Lesbian Association Museion (www.lesba.sk)
Queer Leaders Forum (www.qlf.sk)
Záujmové združenie žien Aspekt - Aspekt (www.aspekt.sk)
EsFem (www.esfem.sk)
Nadácia Milana Šimečku - Milan
Simecka Foundation (www.nadaciamilanasimecku.sk)
Žena v tiesni - Women
in straits (oz.zenavtiesni@tipnet.sk)
Centrum rodový štúdií - Gender Studies
Centre (www.genderstudies.fphil.uniba.sk)
Slovensko-český ženský fond – Slovak
- Czech Women’s Fund (www.womensfund.sk)
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