Liz Lynne calls for end to violence against women.

9.10.00am GMT Mon 24th Nov 2008

Birmingham Euro-MP Liz Lynne has today called on the Member States of the EU to sign up to UNIFEM's petition against violence towards women.

The LibDem MEP's call comes after she signed a written declaration in the European Parliament highlighting the UNIFEM campaign, entitled 'Say NO to Violence against Women', and calling on the European Commission to declare a year of 'Zero Tolerance of Violence against Women' within the next five years.

Domestic Violence against Women is one of the more under reported types of crime in the UK. It is currently estimated it accounts for up to 16% of all violent crime and will affect 1 in 4 women during their lifetime.

The written declaration will force a full debate on the issue by the European Parliament if signed by half of the MEPs.

Liz, who is a member of the European Parliament's Sub-Committee on Human Rights, and who has been a long time campaigner on both domestic violence and other examples of violence towards women, including human trafficking, said that it was vital that more attention be paid to the horrific way women right around the world are treated.

Liz said:

"It is absolutely vital that the European Parliament, along with the other institutions of the EU and all of the Member States, do everything within our power to end the violence against women that occurs each and every day.

"I fully support the UNIFEM campaign to end violence against women; however, it is also important that we do not forget that domestic violence is an issue that also effects men and that we do not lose sight of tackling the problem in relation to all genders..

"Domestic violence is not just a UK based problem, it is not just an EU problem, it is a world wide issue that simply has to be addressed.

"I am therefore calling on all Member States to throw their full weight behind the UNIFEM campaign and to set an example to other countries around the world that violence against women cannot be tolerated no matter where it occurs."

ENDS

Notes:

In 2007 Liz was the Shadow Rapporteur for the Liberals and Democrats Group on the European Parliament's report on human trafficking.