Only YES means YES – Policy Development on combating sexual violence against women and girls in Western Balkans
Sexual violence, as one of the most brutal forms of violence against women, remains unpunished in significant numbers of cases due to an inadequate and scientifically incorrect legal definition of this criminal offence. Definition of rape in all countries of the Western Balkans remains based on necessary use of force and requires victim’s physical resistance; decisions on whether the rape took place are based on traditional beliefs about “typical” behaviour in any such situation, gender stereotypes and myths about male and female sexuality. This is in collision with Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention; this explicitly calls the states to amend the definition of rape and to consider every sexual act without consent as rape.
The aim of the Phase I of the project was to undertake contextualised and comprehensive research on the level of knowledge, policies, attitudes and opinions of political parties in all Western Balkans countries regarding amendment of legislative definition of rape and improvement of the position of survivors, and to develop a strategy for each of the Western Balkan countries to amend legislation, practices, and bylaws regarding rape and sexual violence against women and girls based on robust analysis of opinion (attitudes) and policies of major political parties.
Phase I showed that the problem of legal definition of rape is little known about around the region, both in general and political public. Even the persons dealing with human and women rights within the parties, are often unaware that there is a problem in the legal definition of the rape and that it needs to be amended. This is why political parties, in a vast majority of cases, have no policy regarding the issue, have not dealt with it, and had no statements, campaigns or activities to change the legislation. It also revealed that the parties, as a rule, are open to addressing this problem. However, they do not put this issue in the focus of their own actions due to the assessment that other topics are more important or can bring more significant political benefit.
Phase I of the project has intricately delineated a comprehensive array of subjects, concerns, and domains that are slated for inclusion in the training curriculum. This phase is dedicated to the enlightenment of 50 national trainers and party messengers, individuals poised to become pivotal catalysts for the transformation of legislative paradigms. Their role extends beyond the confines of political parties to spearhead advocacy initiatives both internally and externally. Their strategic significance is underscored by their indispensable contribution to the impending Phase III, wherein advocacy campaigns will be initiated and substantive amendments to legislation will be proffered.
The project is being implemented by Regional Academy for Democratic Development with the support of UK Labour.
