Fempower - WOMEN AGAINST VIOLENCE EUROPE

“My house is my castle” – the protection of victims of domestic violence under Polish law

November 5, 2021May 24, 2019

Although the Polish legal system has undergone some changes as a result of Poland’s adoption of the Istanbul Convention (1),there still are a number of … Read more

The lack of implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Italy

August 18, 2023May 10, 2019

On September 10th, 2013, the Istanbul Convention was ratified by Italy and it entered into force almost one year later, on August 1st, 2014. By ratifying the Convention, Italy is obliged to prevent and eliminate violence against women (VAW), particularly by eradicating gender stereotypes which are deeply embedded in Italian culture. These are said to be the main cause behind the high rates of domestic violence and femicide, which have dramatically increased in the past couple of years. This issue was also highlighted by the former United Nations Special Rapporteur on
VAW, Rashida Manjoo(1), in her report about the situation of VAW in Italy from 2012, and was also reflected in the judgement passed by the European Court of Human Rights in 2017 concerning the case Talpis v. Italy.(2) The current legal framework is characterized by fragmentation, inadequate punishment of perpetrators, and lack of effective redress for women affected by violence.

The work of “Medica” Zenica with survivors of war rape and sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina

November 5, 2021March 22, 2019

About “Medica” Zenica(1)

Medica Zenica is the oldest specialized women’s non-governmental organization in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH), which, since April 1993 has been continuously providing comprehensive help, support and care to women and children survivors of war. Additionally, it also offers support to women and children suffering from post war violence, including survivors of war rape and other forms of war torture, sexual violence in general, survivors of domestic violence, as well as victims of trafficking in human beings. Medica Zenica is a leading organization addressing the issues of trauma and violence in BiH and during almost 23 years of work Medica Zenica has provided services to more than 450.000 survivors throughout the territory of BiH.

The impact of a separation or divorce in cases of domestic violence on refugee status determination

November 5, 2021March 8, 2019

This article seeks to outline the impact of a separation/divorce of a woman from her husband on refugee status determination (RSD) in cases where women have experienced violence by their husband in their country of origin and/or after arriving in the receiving country. An overview of case law of the Austrian Federal Administrative Court will be provided and in the second part main gaps in practice are summarized.

Implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Finland: What is working well and what still needs to be fixed?

November 5, 2021February 22, 2019

Finland signed the Istanbul Convention (IC) in 2011 and the ratification entered into force in 2015. The first country report to GREVIO was due in spring this year. Alongside Finland’s official report submitted by the state, 13 NGOs formed a coalition to produce a parallel report.(1) The report was coordinated by the two Finnish WAVE members: Federation of Mother and Child Homes and Shelters together with Women’s Line. In this article I will introduce some of the main points of the report, divided here into three core parts: structures for implementation, support measures and legislative problems.

Implementing the Istanbul Convention into Romanian legislation

November 5, 2021January 18, 2019

Romania signed the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) in 2014 and ratified the Convention in 2016, which entered into force as of September 1st, 2016.

Through Law no.174/13.07.2018, the provisions of the Istanbul Convention were partially transposed. Provisions of art. 9 par. (1) lit. b) and c) and par. (3) lit a) and b) from the Directive 2012/29/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October 2012 establishing minimum standards on the rights, support and protection of victims of crime, and replacing Council Framework Decision 2001/220/JHA, were published in the Official Journal of the European Union, L series , issue 315, November 14th, 2012.

From Istanbul to a Clash of Civilisations: A Story of a Hijacked Convention in Slovakia

November 5, 2021January 4, 2019

In the beginning of the decade, everything seemed to go smoothly towards quick ratification of the Istanbul Convention in Slovakia. The Minister of Justice signed the Convention in Istanbul on the date of its opening for signature, being in fact among the first Member States of the Council of Europe to do so. Government experts in cooperation with NGOs elaborated a legal analysis and started to implement an entire array of complex legal amendments required by the Convention. Experts and NGOs expected a standard procedure − ‘business as usual’.

Slovakia has already had a decade-long history in the promotion of gender equality with the first governmental Gender Equality Strategy adopted back in 2009, and additionally two more action plans to combat violence against women. Although the progress was anything but significant, no one ever doubted the agenda of gender equality as such. Today, looking back to those times, it seems that Slovak people are living in a totally different country.

Trafficking and Vulnerability

November 5, 2021November 2, 2018

Women are not vulnerable simply because they are women, nor do the women we support in our trafficking provision lack the capacity or the intelligence to make life choices. Many of these women come from societies that do not recognise their equality or view them as “lesser” human beings and they have been made vulnerable due to circumstances over which they have no control.

The impact of armed conflict on the situation of violence against women in the Ukraine

November 5, 2021October 5, 2018

Violence against women and all forms of sexual violence, including rape, sexual assault, forced prostitution, and sexual slavery, are increasingly recognized as a facet of many recent conflicts, spanning from the European Balkans to African countries. Social and economic crises and breakdowns in the rule of law contribute to domestic violence also within the families of former combatants. This article gives an overview of the situation regarding gender-based violence (GBV) in the Ukraine caused by the war, which erupted in April 2014.

Solidarity in wartime – Ground to hold on to hope

November 5, 2021September 14, 2018

“I see, I hear, I feel you”
Feminist work with women survivors of the war from the territory of the former Yugoslavia (1991-1999)

Women’s solidarity is a value cherished by feminists all around the world. During wartime, the need for solidarity is even more urgent. Some feminist activists working with women coming from warzones in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Serbia knew this very well. We made a conscientious decision to collaborate with each other during wartime and afterwards. At the same time, a constant flow of self-organized solidarity was arriving from women in Europe towards the women activists in and near the war zones. This precious experience of women’s solidarity during wartime is the theme of this article. Solidarity is precious at all times, but in wartime, it represents ground on which you can sow the seeds of hope.

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“My house is my castle” – the protection of victims of domestic violence under Polish law

The lack of implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Italy

The work of “Medica” Zenica with survivors of war rape and sexual violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina

The impact of a separation or divorce in cases of domestic violence on refugee status determination

Implementation of the Istanbul Convention in Finland: What is working well and what still needs to be fixed?

Implementing the Istanbul Convention into Romanian legislation

Read more

From Istanbul to a Clash of Civilisations: A Story of a Hijacked Convention in Slovakia

Read more

Trafficking and Vulnerability

The impact of armed conflict on the situation of violence against women in the Ukraine

Solidarity in wartime – Ground to hold on to hope

“I see, I hear, I feel you”
Feminist work with women survivors of the war from the territory of the former Yugoslavia (1991-1999)

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“I see, I hear, I feel you” Feminist work with women survivors of the war from the territory of the former Yugoslavia (1991-1999)

Contact Details

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“I see, I hear, I feel you”
Feminist work with women survivors of the war from the territory of the former Yugoslavia (1991-1999)