EU joins forces on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women

In a Joint Statement on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, 25 November 2015, Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President of the Commission, Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the Commission, Neven Mimica, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development, Dimitris Avramopoulos, Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Christos Stylianides, Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management, and Věra Jourová, Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality, made the following joint statement: 'Ahead of the occasion of the International Day for the elimination of violence against women, we join our voices to put an end to violence against women and girls. This violence constitutes a blatant violation of human rights and gender discrimination that blights every country in Europe and worldwide.' This year, the European Union (EU) has allocated about €8 million in projects preventing and combating violence against women and girls within the EU and €20 million in fighting against harmful practices abroad. The EU continues to fund humanitarian projects that respond to gender-based violence in emergencies and crises. 

Today, the Berlaymont building, which houses the EU head office in Brussels (Belgium), is lit in orange in support of the '16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence' campaign. On the occasion of the International Day, EU Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, Ioannis Giogkarakis- Argyropoulos said: "The EU is firmly committed worldwide to strengthen its efforts in order to make gender- based violence a problem of the past.

 In Papua New Guinea, the European Union Delegation works with development partners to assist victims of gender based violence, to promote women's rights and raise awareness of basic human rights". EU's ongoing engagements in Papua New Guinea include working with Child Fund Papua New Guinea under the House for Protection & Empowerment (HOPE) project in National Capital District (NCD) and Central Province. Under this project, City Mission run Haus Ruth Safe Shelter in NCD, has increased accommodation opportunities for women and children and provides life skills (cooking, sewing etc.) and paralegal training, to prepare their return and integration back to their communities.