Global initiative ’16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’ was marked today in Belgrade, announcing joint activities of Government Coordinating Body for Gender Equality and UN Team on the occasion of International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
At the gathering held at cultural centre Parobrod, Head of the EU Delegation to Serbia Michael Davenport said that European Commission November Report on Serbia noted that violence against women was present but that Government made increasing efforts to tackle this issue.
EU Ambassador Davenport said that the issue of violence against women was a “topical subject” during the migrant crisis.
“Unfortunately, women and girls became victims of some very unscrupulous people who are engaged in unacceptable things during the long journey to Europe,” said Head of EU Delegation to Serbia.
He says that violence against women happens every day not only in Serbia but also around the world, “in particular during hard times of conflicts and wars.”
Davenport said that it was necessary to raise awareness of all people about the issue of violence against women in order to make a joint effort and strengthen activities to combat this form of violence.
President of the Government Coordinating Body Zorana Mihajlovic said that in 2015 domestic violence took lives of 33 women and that the responsibility for those deaths lied in the hands of everyone.
Photo: FoNet
“When I say everyone, I mean every single one of us, citizens, institutions, media. We all have to do much more than we have done so far,” said Zorana Mihajlovic.
She said that it was necessary to set up a legal framework that would align family and criminal law, and implement parts of Strategy and Action Plan for Gender Equality which deal with combating violence against women and children.
UN Coordinator in Serbia Irena Vojačkova Solorano said that UN would continue to support response of institutions regarding the prevention of violence against women “which is unacceptable.”
“When there is violence there is no rule of human rights law, meaning that women are at particular threat,” Solorano said. She also said that the UN was paying particular attention to perpetrators trying to make their behaviour unacceptable.
The gathering was also participated in by Sabine Fraser, Regional Advisor of UN Women. In 2015, the Fund aimed at prevention of gender-based violence, and lead by UN Women, granted USD1.200,000 to Serbian organisations to allow them to make their contribution to prevention of gender-based violence.
Within the initiative made by UN Secretary General, over the course of 16 days of activism against gender-based violence (November 25-10 December), the campaign “Orange the World: End Violence against Women and Girls“ will be carried out. The campaign includes lighting monuments and landmarks around the world in orange.
Over the course of 16 days, National Assembly of Serbia, Ada Bridge, the Government building, National Theatre of Serbia, Pobednik Monument and Albania Palace will be lit in orange to symbolise the brighter future free of gender-based violence.
Apart from this, citizens will have an opportunity to visit the Zero Tolerance Zone for Violence at Parobrod from 25-30 November, which includes exhibition and film projections dealing with violence against women.
