Decision No 293/2000/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 January 2000 adopting a programme of Community action (the Daphne programme) (2000 to 2003) on preventive measures to fight violence against children, young persons and women

DECISION No 293/2000/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL
of 24 January 2000
adopting a programme of Community action (the Daphne programme) (2000 to 2003) on preventive measures to fight violence against children, young persons and women
THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 152 thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission(1),
Having regard to the opinion of the Economic and Social Committee(2),
Having regard to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions(3),
Acting in accordance with the procedure laid down in Article 251 of the Treaty(4),
Whereas:
(1) Physical, sexual and psychological violence against children, young persons and women constitutes a breach of their right to life, safety, freedom, dignity and physical and emotional integrity and a serious threat to the physical and mental health of the victims of such violence; the effects of such violence are so widespread throughout the Community as to constitute a major health scourge.
(2) It is important to recognise the serious immediate and long-term implications for health, psychological and social development, and for the equal opportunities of those concerned, that violence has for individuals, families and communities and the high social and economic costs to society as a whole.
(3) According to the World Health Organisation's definition, health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity; in accordance with Article 3(p) of the Treaty, Community action is to include a contribution to the attainment of a high level of health protection.
(4) These principles are recognised in the United Nations Convention of 1979 on the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, the United Nations Convention of 1989 on the rights of the child, the Vienna Declaration of 1993 on the elimination of violence against women, the Declaration and Platform of Action adopted at the IVth Conference on women held in Beijing in 1995, the Declaration and the Plan of Action against the sex trade and the exploitation of minors adopted at the Stockholm Conference in 1996, and the Lisbon Declaration of 1998 on youth policies and programmes of the world conference of ministers of youth.
(5) The European Union has taken action in the field of justice and home affairs in particular by the Joint Action of 24 February 1997 concerning action to combat trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of children(5); the criminal law aspects of violence are a matter for the Member States.
(6) The European Parliament, in its Resolutions of 18 January 1996 on trafficking in human beings(6), of 19 September 1996 on minors who are victims of violence(7), of 12 December 1996 on measures to protect minors in the European Union(8) and of 16 September 1997 on the need to establish a European Union-wide campaign for zero tolerance of violence against women(9) and of 16 December 1997 on trafficking in women for the purpose of sexual exploitation(10) has called upon the Commission to draw up and implement action programmes to combat such violence.
(7) The Commission, in its Communication of 24 November 1993 on the framework for action in the field of public health, identified, inter alia, the prevention of injuries as an important area for action in the public health field; in this framework on 8 February 1999 Decision No 372/1999/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council was adopted on a programme of Community action on injury prevention(11).
(8) By providing support for acquiring better knowledge and understanding of, and wider dissemination of information about violence against children, young persons and women and by developing actions complementary to existing Community programmes and actions, while avoiding unnecessary duplication, this programme will contribute greatly to curbing exploitation and ensuring a high level of human health protection, taking into account its physical, mental and social aspects, and a high quality of life.
(9) Direct action concerning violence against children, young persons and women is in essence part of Member States' activity at national, regional or local level.
(10) The Community can provide added value to the actions of Member States concerning the prevention of violence, including violence in the form of sexual exploitation and abuse perpetrated against children, young persons and women through the dissemination and the exchange of information and experience, promoting an innovative approach, the joint establishment of priorities, the development of networking as appropriate, the selection of Community-wide projects and the motivation and mobilisation of all parties concerned.
(11) This programme can bring added value by identifying and stimulating good practice, by encouraging innovation and by exchanging relevant experience of actions undertaken in the Member States, including an exchange of information relating to the various laws and the results achieved.
(12) Therefore, in accordance with the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality as set out in Article 5 of the Treaty, the objectives of the proposed measure can be better achieved by the Community; this Decision confines itself to the minimum required in order to achieve those objectives and does not go beyond what is necessary for that purpose.
(13) Active partnership between the Commission, the Member States and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and in particular organisations concerned with the welfare and quality of life of children, young persons and women needs to be promoted in this area and synergy between all the relevant policies and measures encouraged by promoting cooperation between NGOs, other organisations and national, regional and local authorities.
(14) In order to achieve the objectives of the programme and use the resources available in the most efficient way, the areas in which work is to be done must be carefully chosen by selecting projects which offer a greater Community added value and show the way towards trying out and disseminating innovative ideas to prevent violence, in the context of a multidisciplinary approach.
(15) Cooperation with the international organisations competent in the fields covered by the programme and with third countries should be fostered, as well as with all those likely to be involved in preventing violence.
(16) Provision should be made for opening up this programme to participation by the applicant countries in the pre-accession phase, in accordance with the conditions established in the relevant agreements, particularly the Association Agreements and the additional protocols to those Agreements.
(17) In order to increase the value and impact of the programme, a continuous assessment of the actions undertaken should be carried out, with particular regard to their effectiveness and the achievement of the objectives set and with a view, where appropriate, to making the necessary adjustments.
(18) This programme should be of a four-year duration in order to allow sufficient time for actions to be implemented to achieve the objectives set.
(19) The measures necessary for the implementation of this Decision should be adopted in accordance with Council Decision 1999/468/EC of 28 June 1999 laying down the procedures for the exercise of implementing powers conferred on the Commission(12).
(20) This Decision lays down for the entire duration of the programme a financial framework constituting the prime reference, within the meaning of point 33 of the Interinstitutional Agreement between the European Parliament, the Council and the Commission of 6 May 1999 on budgetary discipline and improvement of the budgetary procedure(13),