/ Stop Violence Against Women Website
The Violence Against Women Monitor
A publication of Minnesota Advocates for Human Rights
June 2005
STOPVAWWebsiteNews / National VAW Monitor Program / International
& Regional News / National
News / New Research
and Reports
Expert’s Corner:Comments on the Hungarian Domestic Violence Case before CEDAW: / Armenia National VAW Monitor Contribution / New Draft Resolution on Integration of the Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective / "Best Help for Rape Victims Act" Seeks to Correct U.S. DOJ Sexual Assault Treatment Guidelines / Freedom House Report Labels the World's Most Repressive Societies
Expert’s Corner: The Law on Protection against Domestic Violence in Bulgaria: Insights and History / Azerbaijan National VAW Monitor Contribution / Online Discussion on Technology and Violence Against Women / Forcible Bridal Abduction is Subject of National Debate in Kyrgyzstan / CIVICUS Report Studies Punishment of Domestic Violence in the Czech Republic
New STOPVAW section: Turkey Country Page / Bosnia and Herzegovina National VAW Monitor Contribution / Austrian Authorities Break up European Human Trafficking Network / Medical Volunteers Heal the Physical Scars of Domestic Violence / New Report on Roma, Sinti and Travelers from Council of Europe
New STOPVAW section: Azerbaijan Ethnic Minorities / Bulgaria National VAW Monitor Contribution / Council of Europe Holds Summit for Unification of Human Rights Standards / Poland Adopts Law on National Minorities / New Report on Problems with NGO Registration in Azerbaijan from OSCE
Croatia National VAW Monitor Contribution / Development Company Places Women at the Heart of New Projects / Romania Ratifies EU Accession Treaty / OSI Releases New Report on Gender Equality in New EU Member States and Accession Countries
Kazakhstan National VAW Monitor Contribution / European NGOs Collaborate to Combat Trafficking / Bulgarian Court Removes First Batterer from Home under New Domestic Violence Law / Online Course on Sex Trafficking
LithuaniaNational VAW Monitor Contribution / Women's Human Rights Training Announced / Turkey Begins National Campaign to End Honor Killings / ILO Releases New Study on Forced Labor Worldwide
SlovakiaNational VAW Monitor Contribution / Women Have Surgery to Avoid Honor Killings / Spain: Authorities Must Act Effectively Now to Protect Women's Rights in the Home / New Report: One Life Lost as a Result of Domestic Violence is One Too Many
CESCR Completes Concluding Comments for Serbia and Montenegro / Two men arrested in Michigan for Human Trafficking / Amnesty International Report Criticizes Human Trafficking in Moldova
Committee Against Torture Issues Conclusions on Albania Report / Mongolia Hosts Meeting on Forced Labor
UNCHR adopts Resolution on the Rights of Victims of Violations of Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law / Pervasive Domestic Abuse in Turkey
OSCE Holds Conference on Trafficking in Belgrade / Women Speak Out about Domestic Violence on Turkish Talk Shows
Uzbekistan: Andijon Events seen through Women's Eyes
Communication is Limited after Protest in Uzbekistan Leads to a Violent Confrontation
Bosnia and Herzegovina Passes New Law on Protection from Domestic Violence
Hotline for Victims of Domestic Violence Opens in Dupnica
The full text of The National VAW Monitor will be available at .
STOPVAW Website News
Expert’s Corner: Hungarian Domestic Violence Case before CEDAW: Victory or Another Pile of Papers for the Archives
Julia Spronz, an NVAW monitor for Hungary,comments on the Hungarian Domestic Violence case heard before CEDAW under the optional protocol. This case is the first case involving domestic violence to be addressed on its merits. Ms. Spronz analyzes the Hungarian government’s response to the Committee’s recommendations. (More information)Expert’s Corner: The Law on Protection against Domestic Violence in Bulgaria: Insights and History
Genoveva Tisheva of the Bulgarian Gender Research Foundation, comments on the history of the work leading to the adoption on the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence in Bulgaria. (More information)New STOPVAW Section: Turkey Country Page
A Turkey country page section has been added to STOPVAW. In addition to the main page, the Turkey country page includes sections on research and reports, treaties, reporting schedule, list of law and policy documents, women’s NGOs and a message board. (More information)New STOPVAW Section: Azerbaijan Ethnic Minorities
A new section describing ethnic minorities in Azerbaijan is now available (More information).Top
National VAW Monitor Program
Armenia
- Trends in media monitoring (More information)
- Peace Coalition Meeting (More information)
- The 49th Expanded Session of the Commission on the Status of Women(More information)
Azerbaijan
- Azeri language link to IRC report in Research and Reports(More information)
- Azeri language link to press release about Asian Baku of Development conference (More information)
Bosnia and Herzegovina
- English translation of Domestic Violence law (More information)
- Press Release and Media Invitation for Forum and Press Conference on Trafficking (More information)
Bulgaria
- Seventh Annual Meeting of Non-Governmental Organizations, Working on Equal Opportunities and Women's Issues (More information)
- Bulgarian Court Removes First Batterer from Home under New Law on Protection against Domestic Violence (More information)
- Hotline for Victims of Domestic Violence Opens in Dupnica (More information)
Croatia
- “Stop trafficking in human beings” (More information)
- National Programme for Suppression of Trafficking in Persons 2005-2008 and Action Plan for 2005 (More information)
Kazakhstan
- A new profile for the Feminist League, Kazakhstan’s National VAW Monitor, has been added to website (More information).
Lithuania
- Human Rights Monitoring Institute 2004 Report on Human Rights in Lithuania (More information)
Slovakia
- Trends in criminal prosecution of violence against a closely related or dependent person (More information)
- Section 215: Violence against closely related or dependent persons(More information)
- New logo (More information)
Top
International and Regional News
New Draft Resolution on Integration of the Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective
On 15 April, 2005, the UN Commission on Human Rights released a draft resolution on Integration of the Human Rights of Women and the Gender Perspective. The resolution reaffirms states’ obligations to address issues of violence against women under international law. The resolution focuses particular attention on violence against women and HIV/AIDS, and on the human rights abuses to women in armed conflict. (More information)Online Discussion on Technology and Violence Against Women
An online discussion drew people together to discuss the role of technology in violence against women. (More information)Austrian Authorities Break up European Human Trafficking Network
After a nearly year long investigation, Austrian officials arrested 59 of 64 suspects in a European ring that smuggled an estimated 5000 immigrants into Europe. Immigrants were subject to life-threatening situations during the journey. (More information)Council of Europe Holds Summit for Unification of Human Rights Standards
Heads of states and governments of 46 European countries met in Warsaw for a summit to discuss human rights. Delegates expressed concern that multiple human rights organizations addressing similar issues creates overlap and inefficiency. As a solution a unified system of rights in Europe was called for. (More information)Development Company Places Women at the Heart of New Projects
GTZ, Germany’s biggest development aid company has taken approaches to ensure that women are at the heart of new development projects. The company has a goal of using the Milllenium Development Goals (MDGs) as a framework in each development project they undertake. Although some of the programs might not be directly related to women’s issues, but they have positive impact on women’s rights. (More information)European NGOs Collaborate to Combat Trafficking
The European Women’s Lobby in conjunction with the Coalition against Trafficking in Women started to implement its project “Promoting preventative measures to combat trafficking in human beings for sexual exploitation.” The project will support women’s NGOs and groups that work on the gaps in anti-trafficking programs in twelve countries of Eastern Europe and CIS. (More information)Women’s Human Rights Training Announced
The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) is organizing an advanced international training program called the Regional Programme on Human Rights of Women 2005. In the intensive training, held in Sweden and Ukraine, participants will be given an overview of international human rights law as it pertains to women. (More information)Women Have Surgery to Avoid Honor Killing
Doctors have reported an increase in the number of women having surgery to repair hymens and give the appearance of virginity. Many women who undergo this surgery are doing so to avoid being a victim of an honor killing.(More information)
CESCR Completes Concluding Comments for Serbia and Montenegro
The Committee noted that Serbia and Montenegro must undertake reform efforts to ensure gender equality and to provide protection for victims of sexual and physical abuse as well as for victims of trafficking. (More information)Committee Against Torture Issues Conclusions on Albania Report
The Committee Against Torture reviewed Albania’s report on the implementation of the Convention Against Torture. It expressed concern about the ongoing prevalence of violence against women and called on Albania to establish means to address the problem. (More information)UNCHR adopts Resolution on the Rights of Victims of Violations of Human Rights Law and Humanitarian Law
The UNHCR adopted principles and guidelines for victims to follow when making a claim based on a violation of human rights or humanitarian law. The report provides a model for countries to use to implement existing international law. (More information)OSCE Holds Conference on Trafficking in Belgrade
OSCE called on countries to review the mechanisms currently used to combat trafficking in human beings and applauded the efforts of Serbia and Montenegro to implement an effective legal framework. (More information)Top
National News
"Best Help for Rape Victims Act" Seeks to Correct U.S. DOJ Sexual Assault Treatment Guidelines
The “Best Help for Rape Victims Act” was introduced into the United States Congress to require the Department of Justice to include information about emergency contraception in the new national guidelines for treatment of sexual assault victims. (More information)Forcible Bridal Abduction is Subject of National Debate in Kyrgyzstan
In Kyrgyzstan, the wide-spread practice of bridal abduction is the focus societal debate in the wake of a documentary on the practice and a University professor’s study of the issue. Kyrgyzstan was admonished by the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women to address the issue and to enforce existing criminal prohibitions of the practice. (Moreinformation)Medical Volunteers Heal the Physical Scars of Domestic Violence
Surgeons and Dentists are volunteering their time to provide free facial and dental reconstructive surgeries to victims of domestic violence. The Face to Face: Domestic Violence project and the Give Back a Smile project give victims a chance to heal emotional scars. (More information)Poland Adopts Law on National Minorities
After fourteen years of debate on the issue, a new law in Poland grants special rights to minorities. The law gives minority populations the right to learn their native language and use it in their private and public lives and where a minority population constitutes at least 20% of the total population, its language can be used in public offices and as names of localities, sites and streets. (More information)Romania Ratifies EU Accession Treaty
On 17 May 2005, Romania's parliament voted unanimously to ratify the EU accession treaty that was signed on 25 April. Romania has agreed to undertake particular reform efforts and must meet the terms of the accession treaty to become a full member in 2007, as projected. (More information)Bulgarian Court Removes First Batterer from Home under New Domestic Violence Law
The regional court in Russe ordered for a first time after the Law on Protection against Domestic Violence had been adopted a spouse to be removed from the family home for a period of one year and to not approach his wife and children for the same period. (More information)Turkey Begins National Campaign to End Honor Killings
Turkey has begun a national campaign to end honor killings. According to Turkish government statistics in 2004, forty-three women were murdered in “honor killings.” New legal changes have been implemented to attempt to address the problem. (More information)Spain: Authorities Must Act Effectively Now to Protect Women's Rights in the Home
In its recent release Amnesty International called the government of Spain to act more effectively to protect women from violence in their home. According to the report survivors of domestic violence face considerable obstacles in getting help, protection and justice. (More information)Two Men Arrested in Michigan for Human Trafficking
On 15 February 2005, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents arrested two men, one a US citizen and one a citizen of Lithuania for subjecting Ukrainian women to forced labor. (More information)Mongolia Hosts Meeting on Forced Labor
On 25 and 26 May 2005, the Government of Mongolia and the International Labor Organization (ILO) will held a meeting for representatives from ten Asian Countries. The effects of forced labor and methods to eradicate the practice faster will be discussed. (More information)Pervasive Domestic Abuse in Turkey
Domestic abuse continues to flourish in Turkish society. Amnesty International estimates that up to one-half of women are subjected to family violence and the current administration is unwilling to undertake legislative reform. (More information)Women Speak Out about Violence on Turkish Talk Shows
Turkish women are using daytime talk shows to talk about personal experiences of domestic violence. After one fatal shooting and one near-fatal shooting, there is a debate about the value of discussing these issues on national television. (More information)Uzbekistan: Andijon Events seen through Women’s Eyes
Women who participated in the protests in Andijon tell their story about fleeing the violence and living in refugee camps. (More information)Communication is Limited after Protest in Uzbekistan Leads to a Violent Confrontation
A protest in Andijan on 13 May 2005 left hundreds dead when government forces fired upon the demonstrators. Since the violent incident, the government has clamped down on communication coming into and leaving the country. (More information)Bosnia and Herzegovina Passes New Law on Protection from Domestic Violence
Bosnia and Herzegovina passed a new Law on Protection from Domestic Violence on 29 March 2005. The new law defines domestic violence and lists various acts that constitute domestic violence. (More information)Hotline for Victims of Domestic Violence Opens in Dupnica
The Knowledge, Success, Change Association set up a volunteer run hotline, which started at the beginning of 2005. Volunteers are trained to deal with female victims of domestic violence who call the hotline seeking assistance. (More information)Top
New Research and Reports
Freedom House Report Labels the World's Most Repressive Societies
Freedom House in a recent report labeled Belarus, Russia (Chechnya), Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan as amongst the most repressive regimes in the world. (More information)CIVICUS Report Studies Punishment of Domestic Violence in the CzechRepublic
This report by CIVICUS looks at a campaign on domestic violence as a case study of the effectiveness of civic society in the CzechRepublic. (More information)New Report on Roma, Sinti and Travelers in Europe
The Council of Europe’s Commissioner for Human Rights has published a new report on the status of Roma, Sinti and travelers in Europe. Among other issues, the report includes a section on trafficking in persons. (More information).New Report on Problems with NGO Registration in Azerbaijan from OSCE
A new report from OSCE describes the continuing problems associated with the registration of NGOs in Azerbaijan. The report documents the situation of NGOs since the adoption of the 2003 law on State Registration and State Register of Legal Entities. (More information)OSI Releases New Report on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men in EU New MemberStates and Accession Countries
The Open Society Institute has released a report examining gender equality in new MemberStates and Accession Countries of the European Union. Countries examined include: Bulgaria, CzechRepublic, Estonia, Hungary, Lithuania, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Turkey. The report also examines the situation of Romani women. (More information)Online Course on Sex Trafficking
The University of Rhode Island is offering an online course in sex trafficking called Advanced Topics in Sex Trafficking. The course cover wide range of topics related to trafficking for sexual exploitation. (More information)ILO Releases New Study on Forced Labor Worldwide
The study finds that more than 12 million people are trapped in forced labor, including 2.45 million who are victims of trafficking in persons (More information)New Report: One Life Lost as a Result of Domestic Violence is One Too Many
The Hennepin County Fatality Review Team has released its annual report. The Report, based on the review of domestic violence related homicides, offers a series of case observations and opportunities for intervention to help save the lives of victims of domestic violence. (More information)Amnesty International Report Criticizes Human Trafficking in Moldova
In its annual report, Amnesty highlighted the problem of human trafficking in Moldova and indicated that many of the women and girls who are victims of trafficking are also victims of domestic violence before they are trafficked and after they return. (More information)Top