“Together for Women’s Safety” – March in Bucharest, October 20
Saturday, the 20th of October, starting at 3PM, the march “Together for Women’s Safety” will take place in Bucharest. We will start from Universitatii Square, Parcul Coltea, and head towards Victoriei Square.
Organizer: The Network for the Prevention and Combating of Violence Against Women (Rețeaua pentru prevenirea și combaterea violenței împotriva femeilor, www.violentaimpotrivafemeilor.ro)
Join our March!
#stopviolenceagainstwomen #STOPVIF
Let’s say to all the women around us: YOU ARE NOT ALONE!
Each and every action of condemning violence against women brings us closer to a world where women can live in safety.
We want to show our solidarity with all women who were or are forced to survive violence.
We want to publicly condemn violence against women and abusive behaviour. Every day we witness aggressions towards women that are not sanctioned; neither by the community nor by the state.
Women are prisoners in a culture of violence in which victims are systematically accused, stigmatised, blamed.
STATISTICS SHOW THAT:
- in 2017, 26% of murders took place within families (according to data from the Public Ministry, IGPR, INML); out of 36.245 domestic violence cases, only 4% reached court (1.491 indicted)
- 1 in 4 Romanian women have been physically or sexually abused by their partner (FRA, 2014)
- 90% of domestic abuse victims who ask for a protection order are women.
WHAT WE DEMAND:
We condemn the aggressive behaviour of those men who consider they have the right to threaten their partner or ex-partner; to rape when consent is not given; to humiliate women on the street or on public transportation; to sexually harass students or work colleagues.
We raise attention to the obstacles faced by women coming from many different groups. At the intersection between gender and other identities, women are simultaneously discriminated for various reasons: low incomes, lack of employment, disabilities, because they are Roma or they belong to another ethnic or religious minority, because they are immigrants, LBT, sexual workers. We raise attention to the social pressure that women feel in order to hide the aggression, regardless of their vulnerabilities, regardless of the group they belong to.
We want to raise a red flag about the attack on women’s rights to decide upon their own body. In Romania, as well in Europe, we are facing a wave of conservatism whose agenda aims at the restriction of abortion rights and of access to contraception. Promoting these ideas can be considered a form of violence against women.
We remind those who state that there aren’t many cases of violence within the traditional family: look at the number of emergency calls to 112, complaints, trials or murders every year. Denying the existence of violence will not make it disappear.
There are voices within the Romanian society criticizing Romania’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention. We would like to tell them that we will not allow any steps back! The Romanian state has the duty to continue the process of harmonizing national legislation in order to implement the Convention in its entirety. This will ensure real protection for the victims of violence.
We are revolted by the fact that the state does not allocate enough funds to prevent and fight against violence. The lives of the women and children victims of domestic violence could have been saved, between 2012 and 2018, with less than 436 million Ron.
WHAT WE DEMAND FROM THE AUTHORITIES?
- To allocate national funds for prevention, awareness raising and educational programmes.
- To urgently modify the existing legislation in order to implement a system of surveillance of abusers through the use of electronic bracelets.
- To urgently modify the Penal Code so as the prosecution of aggressors continues even after the victim retreats her complaint. Institutions must seize themselves in cases of violence against women for a forensic certificate proving 10 days of medical care for injuries, as corresponding to the realities women face, and not for one of 90 days of medical support as currently specified in the legislation.
- To have specialized, trained personnel to efficiently handle cases of violence against women, taking into account the victim’s risk of re-traumatisation.
- At least one shelter in every Romanian county for immediate assistance for the victims of domestic violence.
- Rape crisis centers, with personnel specialized in pursuing the victim’s best interest, through psychological and legal counselling.
- Thorough correct application of the law as well as the ex officio notification when sexual acts with minors take place.
- Collaboration between institutions whenever a case of domestic violence, rape, sexual harassment or exploitation is handled. The police, the judicial and medical system must truly fulfil their role in supporting victims. The representatives of these institutions must treat victims with dignity and professionalism so as to encourage them to make a complaint and report the aggression.
- Educational programmes, programmes of counselling and therapy for the aggressors.
- To make a clear statement: zero tolerance when it comes to violence against women and to include, as part of educational pursuits, notions about gender equality and about the prevention and combating of violence against women.
- To enable legal means to stop the broadcasting of mass-media shows that degrade women, that promote a culture of violence and transform violence into entertainment.
GET INVOLVED!
1. Spread the word about the March. Encourage others to join us.
2. Come to the March to send a message against all forms of violence against women
3. Bring banners with your messages condemning violence against women.
4. Share a video, written or visual message to condemn violence against women. Please post your message alongside our hashtag #STOPVIF or on our event’s page.
5. Donate to support our network’s activities!
Solidarity with the survivors of violence!
