During the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence, parliaments around the world showed their support for the campaign with a wave of activities. New resolutions on ending violence against women were passed, parliament representatives met with women activists and civil rights organizations and held discussions on the issue. In special sessions, the Austrian government and the Ugandan Parliament signed on to Say NO.

Within the framework of the UN Secretary General’s campaign to end violence against women and girls, the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) encouraged its members to participate in the 16 Days of Activism, from November 25 to December 10, by putting the issue on their agenda and reporting about their progress. Proposed activities ranged from organizing events to holding special debates, adopting resolutions and conducting national reviews.  As a result, actions were taken all around the world, from Latin America to the Middle East to South East Asia. Two new resolutions were passed, parliament members participated in work-shops and events, and more countries signed on to Say NO to show their support.

“Women are an important pillar of our society and make an immense contribution to the social and economic development of our country”. In a ceremony attended by women activists and members of CARE, the Ugandan Speaker of Parliament Edward Ssekandi signed on to Say NO, showing the support of his country for the issue. Uganda has recently passed a Domestic Violence Bill. In her speech on December 10, Human Rights Day, the Austrian President of Parliament, Barbara Prammer, stressed the national responsibility in the fight to end violence against women. In collaboration with the UNIFEM National Committee in Austria, members of parliament as well as government signed on to Say NO.

Underscoring the urgency for realization of women’s rights, Rwanda, United Arab Emirates and Cyprus pledged to step up action to end violence against women and girls. Cyprus presented a National Action Plan to End Violence against Women, as well as measures to end Trafficking of women. A new resolution was also passed by the Maldives Parliament. On 17 November, the Spanish Congress of Deputies Equality Committee adopted a report about the Gender Violence Act with the goal to further improve its implementation in all sectors from education to judicial protection.

Macedonia marked the 10th anniversary of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in a Special Session. Officials from the Ministry of Labor and Social Policy met with representatives of the European Commission (EC), the United Nations Development Fund (UNDP), the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the World Health Organization (WHO), the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). Members of the Swiss and the Swedish Parliament attended seminars on combating violence against women, with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) administering activities. A number of motions were submitted to the Swiss government for review. 

In Lebanon, parliament attended a workshop on “The draft law on protecting women from domestic violence in Lebanon”, organized in cooperation with UNDP. The workshop brought together members of the Law Modernization Committee, ministers, representatives of public authorities, civil society organizations, journalists, jurists and survivors of domestic violence.

Special initiatives were also undertaken in Afghanistan, where the General Secretariat of the Wolesi Jirga (House of Representatives) of the National Assembly of Afghanistan organized an event for the Committees on Women’s Affairs, Civil Society and Human Rights of both Houses of Parliament under the 2009 theme “Commit – Act – Demand: We can end Violence against Women”. Members of parliament and officials from the Ministry for Women’s Affairs and the Afghan Independent Human Rights Commission met with representatives of civil society organizations, women’s rights activists, international organizations, UN agencies and women’s associations. In Greece and Serbia, parliament officials met with NGOs to discuss violence against women.

In Andorra, members of parliament, officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Justice, members of the High Council of Justice and the Office of the Attorney General, and representatives of civil society organizations involved in defending women’s rights participated in a discussion about "Combating violence against women through the justice system".

Efforts were also being undertaken on an international level: At a parliamentary conference on “Migration and violence against women in Europe” held in Paris on 10 and 11 December 2009, France’s Jean-Claude Mignon stated in his opening speech that immigrant women were more vulnerable on the account of being women as well as immigrants, and the fact that they are often in a country without legal rights. Mignon stressed the responsibility of the state and the law to provide a framework for the protection of women immigrants. The conference, jointly organized by IPU and the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE), was attended by some 80 parliamentarians and experts from around 25 countries. At its 72nd sitting held on 17 November, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) adopted a resolution to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. The resolution of the Assembly urges the East African Community (EAC) and Partner States to take urgent and concerted action to end violence against women in the EAC region and particularly the Partner States.

The 16 Days of Activism is an annual campaign that runs from International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women through International Human Rights Day. The 16 Days Campaign emphasizes that violence against women is a fundamental violation of human rights. The 2009 theme “Commit ▪ Act ▪ Demand: We CAN End Violence Against Women!” celebrates the dedicated activism that has taken place over the last two decades and serves as a rallying call to remind us that we must continue to build momentum for the efforts to end gender-based violence.

For an overview of 16 Days IPU actions worldwide, click here

To learn more about the IPU’s 2009 campaign, click here

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