Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Yves Coppieters, Belgian minister for women’s rights in the government of the French community, has announced raising financial support for organisations assisting victims of domestic violence on International Women’s Day.
The enhanced support is aimed at particularly helping the specialised Domestic and Family Violence Resource Hub, which organises the Domestic Violence Helpline, and the DIViCo intervention programme, which will be extended across the entire Walloon region.
The DIViCo programme intervenes when the risk of infanticide, femicide, or suicide is increased and will soon be expanded to the provinces of Hainaut and Luxembourg. The programme is already active in the regions of Namur, Liège and Walloon Brabant,
Minister Coppieters, in addition to this support, also plans to present a “New Start Pack” to support victims revamp their lives and to operate on holding perpetrators accountable through dedicated care standards.
Moreover, the latest three-digit number is set to replace the current Domestic Violence Helpline (0800 30 030). It would ensure simpler and more direct access to available assistance. According to a statement from Minister Coppieters, 13,067 calls were attended to by the current helpline, averaging 36 calls per day in the last year.
How does Coppieters promote women’s rights?
Coppieters, following his accession to the role in 2024, indicated that he would follow through with the agenda laid by his predecessor. It contains a Women’s Rights Plan in full which makes 90 recommendations to support and promote the rights of women, as well as their security.
He also understands that teamwork with groups working towards the welfare of women should be established in order for the policies to become effective and accommodative. Coppieters stated that gender cannot prevent him from championing women’s rights.
He further argues that the availability of male supporters of the fight against gender disparities will add value to oversight and solidarity towards women improvement programs.
