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STOP ALL FORMS OF GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE

A manifesto for an inclusive and comprehensive EU gender-based violence policy for all.

In the lead up to International Women’s Day, 8 March, and the expected publication of a draft European Union (EU) law to address violence against women and domestic violence, 30 major international and European networks and organisations have adopted a manifesto for a truly inclusive EU law and policy.
The manifesto has also been signed by 104 national level organisations and networks. Together we call on the European Union to adopt a forward-thinking and truly inclusive approach to gender-based violence – that leaves no one behind and strives to achieve real change in the lives of all people, without discrimination.

Our LGBTQIA+ working group chairperson Martina Bednar has brought this initiative to our attention and we decided we will support this.

The Manifesto

#UsToo Stop all forms of gender-based violence:

A manifesto for an inclusive and comprehensive EU gender-based violence policy for all

Together we call on the European Union to adopt a forward-thinking and truly
inclusive approach to gender-based violence – that leaves no one behind and strives
to achieve real change in the lives of all people, without discrimination. To
meaningfully address gender-based violence in the European Union, we must promote
inclusion, safety, protection, well-being and effective remedies for those most at risk.

In the lead up to International Women’s Day, 8 March, and the expected publication of a draft
EU law to address violence against women and domestic violence, the under-signed
organisations have adopted this manifesto for a truly inclusive EU law and policy. We
welcome the leadership of the European Commission in taking action, and the engagement
of the European Parliament, and urge everyone who will be involved in this effort to take an
inclusive and intersectional feminist approach.

People facing marginalisation and intersectional discrimination – such
as racialised women, women with disabilities, sex workers, those of lower socio-economic
status, experiencing homelessness, with precarious or irregular migration status, as well as

people with diverse sexual orientation, gender identities and expressions and sex
characteristics including trans and non-binary people, are among the most at risk of gender-
based violence and least protected and supported by existing efforts to prevent and tackle
violence and other harm.

Measures that aim to address gender-based violence by focusing on increasing
criminalisation, policing and incarceration can make many people and communities more
vulnerable, reproducing structural, institutional and interpersonal discrimination and
violence. [1]

We urge the European Union decision makers to strive for an ambitious and comprehensive
package of legal, policy and financial measures to address gender-based violence and to
ensure victims’ rights that:

● Centres the perspectives, concerns and recommendations of those facing multiple
and intersecting forms of discrimination.
● Takes an intersectional and rights-based approach, recognising that to achieve
gender equality and freedom from gender-based violence and protect fundamental
rights for all, we have to address all forms of violence, in particular when linked to
gender, gender identity and expression, sex characteristics, sexual orientation,
race and ethnicity, age, disability, class, religion and migration status, and that
those who experience intersectional discrimination face greater vulnerability to all
forms of gender-based violence and domestic violence. [2]
● Addresses structural and historical harms and drivers of gender-based
violence, and underlying issues such as poverty and oppression, including those
created, enabled and normalised by states.
– Addresses the laws, policies, practices and by-laws that discourage and
prevent victims from reporting – such as those that criminalise aspects of
sex work including clients, migration and homelessness – or that deny
survivors access to essential sexual and reproductive health services, as
well as gender-based and intersectional violence perpetrated by police.
– This requires review and reform of such laws, policies, practices and by-
laws as well as specific measures to promote inclusion, safety, well-being,
remedy and reparations for particularly affected groups, including in the
context of the COVID-19 pandemic, where the increased powers of the
police and requirement to present personal identity and vaccination
documents increase the risk of policing of marginalised groups.
● Prioritises a social, community and survivor-centred approach over further
criminalisation, invests in holistic social and support services, including mental
health and sexual and reproductive health care, social protection and harm
reduction, information provision, community interventions, and mechanisms that
enable people to access services, remedies and stability, including residence
status, without conditions or requirements to engage with law enforcement and the
criminal legal system. Ensures that all women as well as people with diverse sexual
orientation, gender identities and expressions and sex characteristics fleeing
violence are able to access safe, suitable and stable accommodation and other
support services without furthering the cycle of abuse.

● Addresses harmful practices such as female genital mutilation; human trafficking;
and non-consensual medical interventions such as forced abortion, forced
contraception, forced sterilisation, intersex genital mutilation, forced gender
reassignment, through this rights-based and intersectional feminist approach.
● Ensures safety and protection for people who do wish to engage with authorities
and with the criminal legal system, protection from secondary victimisation,
including sanctions, penalties and immigration enforcement, and ensures
accessibility of the justice system and procedural accommodation for victims,
including people with disabilities.

● Does not fall behind, and rather builds upon, existing European standards,
including the Istanbul Convention and the Victims’ Rights Directive.

As of 7 March 2022, the manifesto has been signed by the following (alphabetical list):

❖ European/ international networks and organisations

1. Amnesty International
2. ASTRA Network
3. Center for Reproductive Rights
4. Correlation – European Harm Reduction Network
5. Equinox Initiative for Racial Justice (Equinox)
6. EU Civil Society Forum on HIV, TB and Hep
7. Eurasian Harm Reduction Association (EHRA)
8. European AIDS Treatment Group
9. European Anti-Poverty Network
10. European Disability Forum
11. European Federation of Organisations working with Homeless People (FEANTSA)
12. European Liberals for Reform
13. European Network Against Racism (ENAR)
14. European Sex Workers’ Rights Alliance (ESWA)
15. FAAAT think & do tank
16. Fair Trials
17. GAMBE – supporting migrant women
18. Global Alliance Against Traffic in Women
19. Harm Reduction International
20. HIV Justice Network
21. International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF EN)
22. La Strada International – European NGO Platform against trafficking in human beings
23. Mama Cash
24. Organisation Intersex International Europe (OII Europe)
25. Red Umbrella Fund
26. Regional Implementation Initiative on Preventing & Combating Human Trafficking
27. Sex Workers’ Rights Advocacy Network (SWAN)
28. TAMPEP- European Network for the Promotion of Health and Rights among Migrant Sex Workers
29. TGEU – Transgender Europe
30. The European Region of the International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, and Intersex Association
    (ILGA-Europe)
    
    ❖ National level networks and organisations
31. Ação Pela Identidade – Portugal
32. ACCEPT Romania – Romania
33. Act Up-Paris – France
34. ADPARE – Romania
35. Alma-TQ – Kazakhstan
36. APOYO POSITIVO – Spain
37. Asociación Por ti mujer – Spain
38. Association for Support of Marginalized Workers STAR-STAR Skopje – North Macedonia
39. Association HERA XXI, MA IPPF – Georgia
40. Association of Hungarian Sex-Workers (SZEXE) – Hungary
41. Association SKUC – Slovenia
42. ASTRA-Anti trafficking action – Serbia
43. Ban Ying e.V. – Germany
44. BASIS-Projekt – Germany
45. Bilitis Resource Center Foundation – Bulgaria
46. Brazilian association of LGBTQIA+ (ABGLT) – Brazil
47. Bundesverband Trans* (BVT*) – Germany
48. CATNPUD – Catalan network of people who use drugs – Spain
49. Çavaria – Belgium (Flanders)
50. Center Women and Modern World – Azerbaijan
51. CESI – Center for Education, Counselling and Research – Croatia
52. CHOICE for Youth and Sexuality – The Netherlands
53. Comitato per i Diritti Civili delle Prostitute – Italy
54. Comite de Apoyo a las Trabajadoras del Sexo (CATS) – Spain
55. Confederación Sindical de Comisiones Obreras – Spain
56. Deutsche Aidshilfe – Germany
57. Deutscher Frauenrat/National Council of German Women’s Organizations – Germany
58. Dharma & Martia – The United Kingdom
59. Društvo Legebitra – Slovenia
60. Društvo za pomoč in samopomoč brezdomcev Kralji ulice – Slovenia
61. E-Romnja Association (The Association for Promoting Roma Women’s Rights) – Romania
62. Espace P… ASBL – Belgium
63. EUFORIA. Familias Trans-Aliadas – Spain
64. Euphoria Trans – Italy
65. European anti-poverty network Czech Republic – Czech Republic
66. European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB) – Germany
67. European Association of Institutes for Vocational Training (EVBB) – Greece
68. Fair Work – The Netherlands
69. Family Planning Association of Moldova – Moldova
70. Feminist Mobilizations – Bulgaria
71. Fondazione LILA Milano – Italian League for Fighting AIDS – Italy
72. Fossil Free Culture – The Netherlands
73. Foundation Solidarity Works – Bulgaria
74. Frauenhauskoordinierung e.V. – Germany
75. Fundação Portuguesa “A Comunidade Contra a Sida” – Portugal
76. Greek Forum of Refugees – Greece
77. Greek Transgender Support Association (GTSA) – Greece
78. Gruppo Trans APS – Italy
79. Health and social development Foundation – Bulgaria
80. Homosexuelle Initiative (HOSI) Wien – Austria
81. HPLGBT – Ukraine
82. Initiative Group LGBT “Revers” – Russia
83. Internationale Vereinigung Intergeschlechtlicher Menschen – OII Germany e. V. – Germany
84. KOK – German NGO Network against Trafficking in Human Beings – Germany
85. LEFÖ – Counselling, Education and Support for Migrant Women – Austria
86. Lesbian and Gay Federation in Germany LSVD – Germany
87. LGBTI+ Gozo – Malta
88. Life Quality Improvement Organisation Flight – Croatia
89. LILA Lega Italiana per la Lotta contro l’AIDS – Italia
90. Lysistrada Fachstelle für Sexarbeit, Olten, CH – Switzerland
91. Metzineres SCCL – Spain
92. MIT (Movimento Identità Trans) – Italy
93. Moluccan Council of Women (MVR) – The Netherlands
94. Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) – Ireland
95. MozaiQ LGBT Association – Romania
96. Mujeres Supervivientes de violencias de género – Spain
97. Nacional Association of Travestis and Trans person from brazil – Brazil
98. National Ugly Mugs (NUM) – The United Kingdom
99. Nationale Armutskonferenz/ EAPN – Germany
100. NGO AIDSi Tugikeskus – Estonia
101. Österreichischer Frauenring (ÖFR) – Austria
102. PION – Prostituertes interesseorganisasjon i Norge – Norway
103. Positive Voice – Greece
104. Pro-tukipiste ry – Finland
105. RED AMINVI (RED DE APOYO A LA MUJER INMIGRANTE VICTIMA DE LA VIOLENCIA DE GENERO) –
     Spain
106. Red Edition – Migrant sex worker group, Vienna Austria – Austria
107. Red Umbrella Athens – Greece
108. Red Umbrella Sweden – Sweden
109. Right Side Human Rights Defender NGO – Armenia
110. Rutgers – The Netherlands
111. SeksWerkExpertise – The Netherlands
112. Sex Work Polska – Poland
113. Sex Workers Alliance Ireland – Ireland
114. Sex worker Forum Austria – Austria
115. SHOP (Stichting Hulp en Opvang Prostitutie en Mensenhandel) – The Netherlands
116. Social Policy, Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation Studies Association – Turkey
117. Stichting EqualA Foundation – The Netherlands
118. Stichting Prostitutie Informatie Centrum – The Netherlands
119. STRASS – Syndicat du Travail Sexuel – France
120. TAMPEP Nederland – the Netherlands
121. TransAkcija Institute – Slovenia
122. Transfeminiinit ry – Transfeminina rf – Transfeminines NGO – Finland
123. Transgender Infopunt – Belgium
124. Transvanilla Transgender Association – Hungary
125. TransX – Austrian Transgender Association – Austria
126. Ugly Mugs Ireland – Ireland
127. UMAR РUnịo de Mulheres Alternativa e Resposta РPortugal
128. Vatra Psycho-Social Center – Albania
129. Vote for a Woman Foundation (Stem op een Vrouw) – The Netherlands
130. WO=MEN Dutch Gender Platform – The Netherlands
131. Women’s resource center,Armenia NGO – Armenia
132. Zagreb Pride – Croatia
133. И Г Опора ЛЮБВИ – Russia
134. Российский Форум секс-работников – Russia

Author Profile

Theresa Zettl

Co-Founder of European Liberals for Reform
Chairperson of ELfR Working Group Health
ALDE Individual Members Steering Committee Member (2022-2023)

Social Media & Digital Marketing Expert, Blogger
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