Mariëtte Hamer, government commissioner for sexual transgressive behaviour and sexual violence, calls on the cabinet to do more to prevent gender-based violence. According to Hamer, partly because of criticism from the United Nations and experts from the Council of Europe, the Netherlands needs to make a stronger commitment to a culture change that breaks down inequality and misogynistic norms. Atria has worked closely with her in recent years.
Mariëtte Hamer, government commissioner for sexual transgressive behaviour and sexual violence, calls on the cabinet to do more to prevent gender-based violence. According to Hamer, partly because of criticism from the United Nations and experts from the Council of Europe, the Netherlands needs to make a stronger commitment to a culture change that breaks down inequality and misogynistic norms. Atria has worked closely with her in recent years.
Gender-based violence often arises from underlying patterns of power inequality and starts with psychological or sexual violence before escalating to femicide in extreme cases. Hamer believes that government policy pays too little attention to these causes and that funding is limited. She argues for prevention through education, the workplace and campaigns, and for cooperation between the judiciary, healthcare and civil society organisations.
In her advice to the cabinet, Hamer specifically calls attention to the following points:
The government should address the underlying patterns of inequality and misogynistic norms that lead to various forms of violence against women.
The government should continue to encourage conversation about respectful manners and power relations between men and women, at home, at school and in the workplace.
Public campaigns are needed to raise awareness, change behaviour and encourage bystanders to speak out.
The approach should target all places where violence against women occurs and also improve the safety of male and lhbtqi+ victims.
The government should continue to encourage cooperation between care, education, workplace, digitalisation, gender equality policy and initiatives that involve men.
The available budget (around ten million euros) seems inadequate for a comprehensive approach to all forms of violence and cross-border behaviour.
Mariëtte Hamer is right to point out the need for a cultural shift to actually prevent gender-based violence. In recent years, Atria has worked closely with Hamer in her role as Government Commissioner for Sexual Transgressive Behaviour and Sexual Violence, including within the Act4Respect programme. Together with Rutgers, expertise centre on sexuality, and COC Netherlands, we continue to work on the prevention of gender-based violence. By continuing to invest in prevention, awareness and the conversation about respectful manners, sustainable change can be achieved.
