05/09/2006: The European Parliament adopted today the report of the Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality on the DAPHNE III programme. The new Programme, which was developed within the framework of the general programme " Fundamental Rights and Justice", will run from 2007 until 2013. It aims, on the one hand, to prevent and combat violence against women, children and young people and on the other, to protect the victims through the establishment of effective trans-national networks, provision of support for the activities of NGOs and the exchange of best practices and experiences.
The DAPHNE III Programme, which the Commission agreed to separate from the Programme on Drugs, as a result of pressure from the Women's Rights Committee, continues the action undertaken under the DAPHNE I and DAPHNE II programmes which resumed respectively in 1997 and 2004, with great success. Since 1997, the Programme has financed 420 projects, a great percentage of which have contributed to a modification of national legislation, the strengthening of the role of NGOs and the establishment of a close collaboration between all interested parties (local authorities, civil society etc). The success of the Programme relies on its broad and integrated approach to violence, which includes physical, psychological and sexual dimensions at a European level.
The new programme doesn't deliver any important innovations, apart from the great increase in the budget which amounts to 116.85 million euros instead of 50 million previously. The increased funding is aimed at tackling the challenges resulting from the enlargement of the EU, as far as trafficking and violence are concerned, and responding to the Commission's objective of creating a European area of freedom, security and justice. The EPP complies with the agreement on the financial perspectives.
During her intervention in plenary, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou stressed that the success of the Programme depends on good management and transparency in the use of the funds, correct implementation of the general objectives and the respect of the principle of subsidiarity. She asked that the programme take a threefold approach: prevention through information campaigns, addressing the cause of violence, treatment and care for the victims and adequate treatment of perpetrators. Mrs Panayotopoulos indicated that although she was very much in favour of such an initiative, she believes that the proposed Europe-wide helpline (SOS Children) should take the form of a hotline and not of a helpline.
The EPP voted in favour of the report on the DAPHNE III Programme, although it did not agree with the reference to specific categories of victims and objected on the further increase of the budget to 125 million euros which does not comply with the agreement on the financial perspectives.
The Greek MEP, expressed her satisfaction with the almost unanimous approval of her amendment which provides for a specific functioning grant for the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children (19 European Organizations), as well as the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children. This network aims at the protection of children's rights in Europe in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the exchange of information among European countries and the formulation of national policies for children.
The DAPHNE III Programme, which the Commission agreed to separate from the Programme on Drugs, as a result of pressure from the Women's Rights Committee, continues the action undertaken under the DAPHNE I and DAPHNE II programmes which resumed respectively in 1997 and 2004, with great success. Since 1997, the Programme has financed 420 projects, a great percentage of which have contributed to a modification of national legislation, the strengthening of the role of NGOs and the establishment of a close collaboration between all interested parties (local authorities, civil society etc). The success of the Programme relies on its broad and integrated approach to violence, which includes physical, psychological and sexual dimensions at a European level.
The new programme doesn't deliver any important innovations, apart from the great increase in the budget which amounts to 116.85 million euros instead of 50 million previously. The increased funding is aimed at tackling the challenges resulting from the enlargement of the EU, as far as trafficking and violence are concerned, and responding to the Commission's objective of creating a European area of freedom, security and justice. The EPP complies with the agreement on the financial perspectives.
During her intervention in plenary, Mrs Panayotopoulos-Cassiotou stressed that the success of the Programme depends on good management and transparency in the use of the funds, correct implementation of the general objectives and the respect of the principle of subsidiarity. She asked that the programme take a threefold approach: prevention through information campaigns, addressing the cause of violence, treatment and care for the victims and adequate treatment of perpetrators. Mrs Panayotopoulos indicated that although she was very much in favour of such an initiative, she believes that the proposed Europe-wide helpline (SOS Children) should take the form of a hotline and not of a helpline.
The EPP voted in favour of the report on the DAPHNE III Programme, although it did not agree with the reference to specific categories of victims and objected on the further increase of the budget to 125 million euros which does not comply with the agreement on the financial perspectives.
The Greek MEP, expressed her satisfaction with the almost unanimous approval of her amendment which provides for a specific functioning grant for the European Federation for Missing and Sexually Exploited Children (19 European Organizations), as well as the European Network of Ombudsmen for Children. This network aims at the protection of children's rights in Europe in line with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, the exchange of information among European countries and the formulation of national policies for children.
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