[women-rights] Council of Europe to launch first Europe-wide campaign to 'Stop domestic violence against women'

Strasbourg, 14.11.2006 -- A major Council of Europe campaign aimed at
stopping domestic violence against women Europe-wide will be launched at
the Spanish Senate in Madrid on Monday November 27 (Plaza de la Marina
Espanola, Madrid).

Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero and Council of Europe
Secretary General Terry Davis will be amongst dignatories at the official
launch ceremony at the Spanish Senate building at 12.30 pm.

The launch takes place during a conference bringing together around 300
top European experts, politicians and NGOs united in their determination
to stop domestic violence against women. It will focus on three themes:
support and protection of victims, legal and policy measures to combat
violence, and changing attitudes towards violence.

The Council of Europe will be represented by Committee of Ministers Chair
and San Marino Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs Fiorenzo Stolfi,
Parliamentary Assembly President Rene van der Linden, Human Rights
Commissioner Thomas Hammarberg and Ian Micallef, President of the Local
Authorities Chamber of the Council of Europe Congress

Speakers will include ministers from different Council member countries
and representatives from international organisations and the Spanish
Senate.

Operational Information 

The conference is open to the press, and starts at 9am. 
A press conference will be held at 1.15 pm. 
Journalists are asked to use the Bailén street entrance. A
working room with PCs is available. 

Further information on the campaign is available on
www.coe.int/stopviolence and on the conference on the
www.coe.int/stopviolence/conference.