"What new legal measures can European governments take to combat domestic violence?" This is the theme of a seminar being held on 21 and 22 February in The Hague, Netherlands by the Council of Europe and the Dutch Ministry of Justice.

The participants will discuss implementation of measures such as:

* Protection and non-molestation orders, whereby the perpetrator of violence is barred from the home of a former or current partner and/or from any other place where he or she may be found;

* The establishment of specialized courts making it easier for victims to seek justice;

* Recognition of aggravating circumstances in criminalizing domestic violence.

One in 10 face sexual violence

Across European countries one fifth to one quarter of all women have experienced physical violence at least once during their lives, and more than one-tenth have suffered sexual violence.

It is also estimated that about 12 percent to 15 percent of all women have been in a relationship of domestic abuse after the age of 16.

In view of the scale of violence against women in all European countries, the Council of Europe has launched a campaign, which will run until 2008, to draw public attention to the extent of the violence done to women and encourage states to pass new legislation and measures in order to eradicate it.

This regional seminar is the first in a series of five taking place in 2007; the other host countries are Croatia, Portugal, "the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia" and Finland.(EÜ)