Thus, in autumn of the first Crisis Centre for women experiencing domestic violence and abuse was opened. The ongoing intervision β supervision and self β support group for the volunteers is active at the premises of VWH Crisis Centre. Women activists from 20 European countries as well as the United States of America were among the participants. The Association was highlighted as the best practices example.
The Association suggested Beijing Criteria, based on the Beijing Platform for Action, for the evaluation of the progress of the Lithuanian women over the period of 15 years of Lithuanian independence. This Coalition is a form of open civic non-political self-organisation of Lithuanian women community, which aims to coordinate efforts in achieving actual implementation of the Resolution of the IV Congress of Lithuanian Women.
The Resolution of The IV Congress of Lithuanian Women declares that during the 15 years of Independence Lithuanian women united by non-governmental organisations have been actively involved in restoring democracy and development of civic society. Women comprise more than half of Lithuanian society and are more educated than Lithuanian men; however, they are not sufficiently represented in the decision making on the State level.
Therefore, it is necessary to eliminate all forms of discrimination against women and provide equal opportunities for women to act freely in the public sphere. In β , in accordance with Beijing Platform for Action acknowledging that violence against women both violates and impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women of their human rights and fundamental freedoms UN, , the Coalition declared combating violence against women as its main strategic goal.
On May 26th, , the Law prepared by the Working Group was approved by the Lithuanian Parliament with absolute majority 88 members having voted for, 1 β against, and 2 β abstained. Protection from Violence in Immediate Surroundings Law: preparation, commencement, and implementation. The Law declared family violence what in reality it was β a crime and human rights violation.
