1. INTERVICT International Victimology Institute Tilburg Legal developments in the field of violence against women in Western Europe Renée Römkens UNODC-UNDAW Expert Group Meeting Vienna, May 26-29,2008.

2. European supra-national legal developments European Union (EU) - 27 Member States  Instruments specifically dedicated to violence against women  No binding dedicated legal instruments  Policy instruments (Declarations)  Daphne Programme (on violence against women, young people and children) of the European Commission  General human rights instruments (Eur Convention for the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms; European Court of Human rights  jurisprudence).  Relevant general victim rights instruments: EU Framework Decision on the standing of victims in criminal proceedings (March 2001)

3. European supra-national legal developments - continued  Council of Europe (CoE) – 44 (plus) Member States  No binding legal instruments  Policy instruments: Recommendation (2002)5  Council of Europe Task Force to combat violence against women, including domestic violence  Several regional seminars (2006-2007) -> legal and policy recommendations  Research  European Convention in the making?

4. Current trends in national legislation in Europe  Scattered and substantial differences among Member States  Few comprehensive legal strategies or action plans that encompass prevention, protection and punishment. Focus is on criminalization.  Thematically:  focus on domestic violence.  marital rape exemption is lifted in only 12 MS  legal strategies focusing on prevention - like the use of barring or no-go order - are only slowly introduced  Increasing attention for violence against women that is related to migration (forces marriages, ‘honour’ related violence).  Conclusion: much work to be done  Future:  Impact in European countries of the use of the UN Convention to End Discrimination Against Women Optional Protocol - Views/Communications of the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

5. Law on the books – law in action  Law and the implementation of law  Need for monitoring instruments  Need for evaluation research  Need for strong and independent feminist organizations/ political lobby