Khadidja -  37  After the wedding, he became a different man. He used to lock the door and wouldn’t go out with me or eat with me. I felt stupid and guilty. I stopped eating and ended up in hospital. He made me leave home and I am afraid that will backfire on me. I filed a complaint against him but I didn’t have any proof. I wasn’t as “lucky” as other victims - he didn’t beat me. Then nobody wanted to take me in. I decided to take my life into my own hands and with the help of doctors, social workers, lawyers and the shelter for women, where I was in very good company, I regained my self-confidence. Now I express my feelings through my painting

Campaign  '  Stop domestic violence against women '

Martine - 50, Employee  He left me for dead like a piece of rubbish. I had already lodged a complaint in 2004 but there were no witnesses, and it was my word against his. What was the point of pursuing it? The stand-off between us was horrible. Of course, I was losing it, and he was sure of himself. He is manipulative, always polite, kind and decent in the company of others. At home, there was nothing, no way out. I only had to look at him the wrong way for him to kick off. I am disfigured and I still have the marks of his hands on my neck. Today I am in pieces. I don't see any of the things around me any more. I want him to be punished. Not prosecuting them only encourages them to carry on. Despite everything, I loved my husband and that made me suffer

Christine, 43,‚Ä®died on 23 February 2007 as a result of violence by her husband.

Anna, 35 Employee  We had been living together for 7 years. The verbal aggression started at the beginning of my pregnancy. He did everything he could to keep me away from my friends and family. Yet I had done nothing wrong. When he hit me for the third time, I ran away with my child. A work colleague took me in, and I was put in touch with the “SOS Femmes Solidarité” association. It was the only safe haven where I could tell my story without fearing reprisals or feeling ashamed. I was terrified of running into my exhusband when leaving work, at the nursery, at the end of the street or even in front of the block of flats where I live, even though he didn't know my new address. After the divorce and after he had been sentenced for violence and death threats, I turned the page and put it all behind me. I have been able to rebuild a trusting relationship with a man I had known for a long time – he was the one for me. There is always hope. There is a life after this hell.

Melek - 25, assistant cook  Today I am waiting for the trial so that he can be judged and imprisoned. He says he is sorry and wants me to come back. There is no way that is going to happen. I was beaten by my husband but also by my parents-in-law for ten years. For all those years I never left the house except to go to work, and always accompanied by my husband. I‚Äôve really had enough. Every day I cry and think of my children. I am tired but I am going to win through. I managed the first step by coming to the refuge and a second one by finding work. I want to go on from there: get my children back, find a flat and have a quiet life. In the end it is me who is going to win, and not my husband.

Flora - 35, civil servant  Dancing brought us together. But then it provided an excuse for jealousy. There were no insults, degrading comments, attempts to cut me off from others, threats or physical violence when we first met, but they soon came. To cope with them, I contacted a victim support association, SOS Femme Solidarite, who helped me a great deal, both morally and materially. After we broke up I had to move out of my flat because he had sent me death threats. I experienced real fear ‚Äì the type where you shake from head to foot for fear of dying, being disfigured for life or being disabled. And yet we had separated and I had reported him to the police. If he isn‚Äôt supervised, I wonder what offences he will commit next and who his next victim will be. These keys symbolise the flat where I can sleep safely now and have been able to start a new life.

Sonia - 54, assistant nurse  I left my violent husband 14 years ago, taking my three young children with me, because it was a matter of life or death. My husband was judged irresponsible for his acts at the time. It was horrifying to realise that no charges would be upheld against him and he would not be convicted. But even worse were the words of his psychologist who thought that I should be punished for what I‚Äôd made him go through. He swore that he would kill me as soon as my youngest son turned 18. I think about it more and more since that date is getting closer but it doesn't stop me from living. I will never trust a man again but life always goes on. Today, I am a member of a victim support association ‚Äì if my testimony gives just one woman the strength to leave and to fight, it will slightly sooth a wound that will never heal.

Nassira - 34  I need to speak up for women victims. Women are the future of men. They deserve respect. But without men we are nothing either. It is thanks to them we can have children. I need to feel safe from predators. Sometimes I feel scared‚Ä¶ lost‚Ä¶ so tired and weary. But I know I need a new love, kindness, affection, sharing, being happy again. Men and women need each other‚Äôs support.

A new life starts  The time has come to leave the shelter and make a fresh start. Shehas toget used to fending for herself again in her new home, far from the other at the shelter

Sherine - 31  We got married because we were in love. Some time later, he started locking me in the house and hitting me. He raped me and forced me to have sexual relations which I did not agree to. I had bruises everywhere. After beating me he would go out and lock me in. He threatened to stop me from getting my papers. I wanted to give him another chance because I loved him. Today I live in an emergency shelter and I am afraid to go out. My husband is still threatening me and trying to get me back. He has scaled the wall. He waits outside. Just knowing he‚Äôs there makes me shake like a leaf. All I want now is to get my son back.

Micaela -  34, Employee  For six years, day after day, he would hit me. He split my head open, broke my nose, burnt my arm with a cigarette. I ran away to Spain with only my daughter under my arm and my papers. I had to leave my son behind and I’ve had no news of him for eight years. I had a breakdown, lost my job and they took my daughter away. She has become a victim of violence too. What did I do to deserve all this? What did my daughter do to deserve the same fate?

Leila  Today I drift from shelter to shelter while he sits comfortably at home.

Seminar for International Women's Day: Combatting Violence against Women

On the occasion of the International Women's Day, the European Parliament is to stage a debate on the follow-up to the 1995 Beijing World Women's Conference. particular focus is the issue of violence against women

Sylvia-Yvonne KAUFMANN, Ayaan HIRSI ALI, Member of the Lower House of the Netherlands

2573 resultados

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Campaign ' Stop domestic violence against women '

Seminar for International Women's Day: Combatting Violence against Women

Seminar for International Women's Day: Combatting Violence against Women

On the occasion of the International Women's Day, the European Parliament is to stage a debate on the follow-up to the 1995 Beijing World Women's Conference. particular focus is the issue of violence against women

Seminar for International Women's Day: Combatting Violence against Women

Seminar for International Women's Day: Combatting Violence against Women