Help reduce the financial and human cost of domestic violence by raising awareness and taking action to address the impact of domestic violenece in your work place.
Zero Tolerance on Domestic Violence:
Towards a Comprehensive EU-Wide Strategy
April 2011
On 3rd March 2011, CAADV’s Executive Director, Melissa Morbeck, attended the Centre for Parliamentary Studies Public Policy Exchange Conference on Domestic Violence. The conference was held in Brussels and had delegates from throughout European Union and Council for Europe. Melissa found it to be an excellent opportunity to discover more about the Council of Europe and EU member states’ policies towards Domestic Violence as well as best practice programmes of individual member states.
The Conference heard from a number of key speakers including Elizabeth Woodcraft, a barrister and author, and Dr. Dinesh Sethi, from the WHO Regional Office for Europe, who highlighted the need to address domestic violence as a public health issue and the fact it costs the EU 2% GDP every year. This further demonstrates the need for business to be part of the conversation and to address the concerns of their business and their employees who endure and perpetrate violence. Taking a holistic approach that recognises all sectors of society and the regional differences of the member states mean’s its imperative that businesses are aware of the impact that domestic violence can make within their organisations.
Mrs Fedela Novak-Irons, UN High Council on Refugees Bureau for Europe, spoke on the unique issues facing refugee women and children. She pointed to some of the work that was being done in the UK, in attempting to highlight and address the needs of this group of people. There is a need for a cross-border strategy and ‘control orders’, to enable victims of domestic violence to feel confident and secure when travelling to and from different countries within the EU. This has a knock-on effect to employers, who should be able to provide support and information to all employees.
Mrs. Maria Rosslhumer, director of the Austrian Womens’s Shelter, shared the work being done is Austria and the WAIVE Foundation of shelter services. Maria also highlighted the lack of sheltered services in many EU and Council of Europe member states and the need to improve this if Europe was going to tackle the issue of domestic violence. She also asked the conference to consider ways in which to create awareness of the unique programmes of MARAC and IDVAs we have here in the UK that save so many lives.
Part of the day was spent on learning of the EU Convention which states that domestic violence is a criminal offense, a loss of human dignity and the pursuit of life and a human rights violation. Key is that ratification of this convention would link those who ratify the convention and provide further protections and legal rights to those people who endure violence. The Convention allows for regional enhancements. The ratification of the proposed ‘convention’ is due to take place in May 2011.
Melissa spoke to the delegates of the conference about the concept of CAADV and the need for businesses to be made aware of domestic violence and its effect in the workplace, both in financial and human terms. Melissa highlighted that simple, low cost and high impact measures can be put into place in the workplace to address the needs of people who endure violence and those who perpetrate violence along with combating the cost to employers of absenteeism, presenteeism, lost productivity and retaining a talented work force. Central to the conference attendees was not only the legislative approach but also the need for a holistic approach that was inclusive of all sectors of society,
The one day conference was very inspiring and a great success and brought together many key figures and influencers who can make a difference in persuading EU governments and policy makers to raise more awareness on Domestic Violence and its impact on society.
The conference was very well attended and ultimately over-subscribed, so another session has been organised on 14th June 2011. If you would like to attend this conference or would like more information click here.
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For more information about CAADV, please contact: support@caadv.org.uk