“In just three years the Istanbul Convention has been signed by 19 states and ratified by 18 – that is extraordinary, by any standards,” highlighted the Deputy Secretary General at the first meeting of the Committee of the Parties to the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence.

“It has been backed by parliaments and governments, other intergovernmental organisations, NGOs and campaigners – and it has put the Council of Europe at the forefront of the fight for gender equality.”

“The real test, of course, comes now: putting the Convention into force”, she said.

• Speech by Gabriella Battaini-Dragoni
• About the Istanbul Convention