Past Events 2007
U.S. Embassy Campaigns Against Gender-Based Violence
Director of the Office of International Women's Issues at the State Department Andrea Bottner visited Hungary November 26-29, 2007 in order to assist the Ambassador's efforts to mark the campaign of "16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence" (November 25 - December 10). Ms. Bottner, who is an expert of the issue of domestic violence, was accompanied by Training Director from the San Diego Family Justice Center Jim Barker. During their three-day visit, they exchanged information and shared best practices with various Hungarian officials dealing with domestic violence including the representatives of the police, the prosecutor's office, the courts, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and different civil organizations. The guests also visited a temporary home for distressed families in Budapest and a crisis center for victims of domestic violence in Kaposvár.
On November 29, 2007, the Embassy organized a conference at the International Law Enforcement Academy dedicated to domestic violence. The conference was also the closing event of the national anti-domestic violence campaign of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labor and the Council of Geopolitics. Ambassador Foley stressed in her opening remarks the importance of cooperation between the various parties to change the social attitude towards domestic violence and to enhance the effectiveness of the legislative and judicial actions against this problem.
