Anti-domestic violence budget must rise, says De Rossa
A European Parliament review of the Daphne programme found last year one-in-five women suffer violence or abuse at the hands of their partner. Mr McDowell and other justice ministers are due to decide on the Daphne II programme to combat violence against women and children in the autumn.
The European Commission proposed a figure of €40m for the five-year programme for the expanded 25-member EU, due to start early next year.
Mr De Rossa said MEPs felt funding was far from adequate and were proposing that it be increased to at least €65m.
Well over 2,000 applications had been submitted to Daphne over the past six years proposing a total spend of €200m, while only 300 or so had been successful.
A large number of Irish groups and bodies have taken part in Daphne projects including the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to children, the Irish Family Planning Association, the gardaí, the Copine project at UCC and the Irish Family Planning Association.
Rapporteur of the Daphne programme Lissy Groner, said the initiative was established in 1996. Between 2000 and 2001, 622 proposals were received, with requests for funding totalling €62m.
“This overwhelming response showed that the programme clearly meets a deeply felt need,” she pointed out.
The German MEP, who is also the socialist group’s spokesperson on the Committee on Women’s Rights and Equal Opportunities, pointed out that only 13% of the received proposals could be financed, although most of them were able to meet the funding requirements.
