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Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women

On the 1^st of August the “Istanbul Convention” of the Council of Europe entered into force. The aim of the Convention is to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence. 

So far, 22 Member states of the Council of Europe have signed the convention and 14 member states have ratified it. 

By ratifying the convention the countries undertakes to prevent all forms of violence against women and take specific measures to fight gender-based violence, sexual harassment, forced marriage and genital mutilation etc.

The Convention has been promoted by various international and lobby organisations such as the campaign “Act Against Rape” organized by European Women’s Lobby in 2013.

To celebrate that the Istanbul Convention has entered into force, the Council of Europe will organise an international conference in Rome on the 19^th of September with the title “Safe from fear, safe from violence”. The conference is organized together with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the chamber of Deputies of Italy as a part of the Italian Presidency of the European Union. The conference also aims at highlighting the holistic approach of the convention to combat gender based violence, and to encourage more member states to ratify and implementing it.