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Geneva, 12/06/2017 SHELTERS AND PROTECTION |
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Geneva, 12/06/2017 SHELTERS AND PROTECTION |
| Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences, Ms Dubravka Šimonović, spoke at the 35th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. The Report on shelters for women victims of violence and protection orders provides recommendations to the states. The contribution to this report, at the invitation of the Special Rapporteur, was also given by women's organizations from the region in joint reports on the situation regarding shelters and protection orders. The Report of Ms Dubravka Šimonović says that the states should have a human rights-based approach, integrated and coordinated laws and policies related to the protection of women from all forms of violence. It is necessary to identify adequate financial and human resources for the proper implementation of policies, measures and programs for the prevention and protection of gender-based violence against women. The states should ensure that police officers and other professionals evaluate security risks, that they are assessed during all proceedings, that they are aware that the risks increase when women turn to institutions for help. The states should develop mechanisms to verify whether children have witnessed violence against their mothers, to protect their safety and best interests. Conditions for accommodating mothers with children, including older boys, in shelters must be provided. It is necessary to provide training on gender-based violence for professionals. The states should establish 24/7 national toll-free telephone helplines, to provide confidential support, anonymously and to be capable of organizing emergency accommodation in the shelter. It is necessary that there is a sufficient number of reliable shelters (both non-state and state funded), appropriately placed, including rural areas, so that the rapid transport of women and children to the closest shelter is ensured. Accommodation must be provided for every woman and girl, children, including women with disabilities, and access to the shelter should be 24/7. Shelters should be oriented towards the rehabilitation of women and their empowerment. They must not be used by the state as forms of “protective custody”, but they must guarantee the safety of women. |
| The states are requested to take necessary changes to the laws in order to ensure protection orders, and that the orders are enforced by public officers and easily obtainable. Protection orders should apply to all forms of violence against women, should be directed to the safety and welfare of women and children, to include ex parte emergency protection, to remain in effect for a prolonged period of time, to order the offender to vacate the residence of the victim for a sufficiently long period and other measures (to prohibit the offender from contacting the victim, stay a specified distance away from the victim), imposed without additional costs or administrative burden put on the victim. All available measures should be used during criminal proceedings, with appropriate implementation of risk assessment, appropriate sanctions for violation of measures, and regular monitoring of compliance. In all cases of gender-based violence against women, the states should ensure that proceedings are conducted ex officio, even when the victims give up or withdraw applications. In addition, mandatory reconciliation in cases of violence against women should be avoided. The states are requested to improve the records of all forms of violence against women, to establish a “femicide watch” and “gender-related killing of women watch”, to analyze each case of femicide and to collect and publish annual data on the number of cases of femicide. |
| Special Rapporteur on Violence against Women, its Causes and Consequences, Ms Dubravka Šimonović, spoke at the 35th Session of the UN Human Rights Council. The Report on shelters for women victims of violence and protection orders provides recommendations to the states. The contribution to this report, at the invitation of the Special Rapporteur, was also given by women's organizations from the region in joint reports on the situation regarding shelters and protection orders. The Report of Ms Dubravka Šimonović says that the states should have a human rights-based approach, integrated and coordinated laws and policies related to the protection of women from all forms of violence. It is necessary to identify adequate financial and human resources for the proper implementation of policies, measures and programs for the prevention and protection of gender-based violence against women. The states should ensure that police officers and other professionals evaluate security risks, that they are assessed during all proceedings, that they are aware that the risks increase when women turn to institutions for help. The states should develop mechanisms to verify whether children have witnessed violence against their mothers, to protect their safety and best interests. Conditions for accommodating mothers with children, including older boys, in shelters must be provided. It is necessary to provide training on gender-based violence for professionals. The states should establish 24/7 national toll-free telephone helplines, to provide confidential support, anonymously and to be capable of organizing emergency accommodation in the shelter. It is necessary that there is a sufficient number of reliable shelters (both non-state and state funded), appropriately placed, including rural areas, so that the rapid transport of women and children to the closest shelter is ensured. Accommodation must be provided for every woman and girl, children, including women with disabilities, and access to the shelter should be 24/7. Shelters should be oriented towards the rehabilitation of women and their empowerment. They must not be used by the state as forms of “protective custody”, but they must guarantee the safety of women. The states are requested to take necessary changes to the laws in order to ensure protection orders, and that the orders are enforced by public officers and easily obtainable. Protection orders should apply to all forms of violence against women, should be directed to the safety and welfare of women and children, to include ex parte emergency protection, to remain in effect for a prolonged period of time, to order the offender to vacate the residence of the victim for a sufficiently long period and other measures (to prohibit the offender from contacting the victim, stay a specified distance away from the victim), imposed without additional costs or administrative burden put on the victim. All available measures should be used during criminal proceedings, with appropriate implementation of risk assessment, appropriate sanctions for violation of measures, and regular monitoring of compliance. In all cases of gender-based violence against women, the states should ensure that proceedings are conducted ex officio, even when the victims give up or withdraw applications. In addition, mandatory reconciliation in cases of violence against women should be avoided. The states are requested to improve the records of all forms of violence against women, to establish a “femicide watch” and “gender-related killing of women watch”, to analyze each case of femicide and to collect and publish annual data on the number of cases of femicide. |
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| Campaign is supported by: | ||
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| The contents of the website are the sole responsibility of Autonomous Women’s Center and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union. | ||
