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Minister Orlando,
Chairperson Nicoletti,
Excellencies,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

We have all come together over these past two days to mark a very special occasion, united by a common desire to end violence against women.

For me, as I suspect for many of you, this Conference has been an emotional and inspirational experience.

It has been very exciting to witness the sense of achievement, pride and joy shared by all of us who have worked so hard to see the Istanbul Convention enter into force.

Over the past two days we have heard vivid accounts of the harrowing experiences that many women were forced to go through.

Some of these women were not helped by the authorities in the way they were supposed to be.

Others could not seek help for reasons beyond their control.

We have also learnt about the requirements of the Convention in the areas of prevention, protection, prosecution.

We have heard how these measures are part of a comprehensive and well thought-through policy approach.

It is safe to say that a glaring gap has now been filled in the protection of women and girls against horrific forms of violence, experienced by many women day in and day out.

The Convention sends a clear message to society as a whole.
It sends a clear message that every man and every woman, as well as every boy and girl, must learn that violence – any kind of violence – is not the right way to solve problems.

Everyone must understand that violence against women will no longer be tolerated.

The Convention also makes sure that those who are the most vulnerable and those who have been neglected for too long are protected.

It recognises that there are women and girls within pockets of society who are often at greater risk from experiencing violence.

Looking to the future, there is no doubt about what still needs to be done.

We need to embed the Convention within our legal systems, but also within the cultural DNA of our societies.

Only then can we seriously deter these crimes and end impunity.

We need to put survivors of domestic violence at the forefront of our efforts – not as victims, but as inspiring and resilient people who can guide us to make the right choices and decisions.

We need to pool our expertise and close the gaps in our laws and capabilities. And we need to do so urgently. But that is not all.

We must also recognise that women will never gain full dignity until their human rights are respected and protected.

Violence against women is both a cause and a consequence of unequal power relations between women and men.

Now is the time for us to act on behalf of women everywhere.

We must use the Istanbul Convention to address the root causes of violence against women and domestic violence.

The Convention makes this possible as it is firmly rooted in the larger context of achieving greater equality between women and men.

Ladies and gentlemen,  

Lasting success will depend on how well we manage to create – and maintain – efficient and sustainable partnerships.

No single agency or institution can deal with violence against women and domestic violence on its own.

An effective response to such violence requires concerted action by many different actors.

This is why this event here in Rome is so important.

It is a powerful reminder that we are not alone in this fight.

Today, as well as over the past years, we at the Council of Europe have witnessed the commitment to ending violence against women shown by a wide variety of individuals and entities.

We have enjoyed the support of governments and parliaments, NGOs and intergovernmental organisations.

I would therefore like to take this opportunity to pay tribute to each agency and institution which has helped us get to where we are today.  

I would like to thank each individual who has played a part and shared their wisdom, from presidents to practitioners in the field.

Your advocacy, tireless lobbying and networking have helped transform the Istanbul Convention from a pipedream into a reality.

A special recognition should also be made to the important contribution made by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in drafting the Convention.

We must also not forget the vital role that the Assembly’s Network of Parliamentarians continues to play in promoting the ratification of the Convention.

Civil society has also played a leading role in helping us further our cause.

NGOs, many of which are represented here today, have done a great deal to advocate for the Istanbul Convention but also ito help with its implementation.

Your expertise and hard work has been invaluable.

It is thanks to all of you that the Istanbul Convention has gone from being simply a piece of paper to a legally-binding instrument.

This is an enormous achievement.

It has been a long journey, from the very first draft to the entry into force which we celebrated here today.

But our work is just beginning.

We cannot afford to rest on our laurels because there is absolutely no time to waste.  

The test we now face is whether we can make a difference on the ground.

It will depend on how well we manage to create conditions for open and insightful dialogue.

It will also depend on how well we make use of the resources at our disposal, on how innovative we are at using modern tools to raise awareness.

In recent years, we have seen how technology is helping to bring abuses out of the shadows and into the centre of global consciousness.

From Facebook to cell phones, from Twitter to Tumblr, technological changes are helping to inspire, organise, and empower grassroots action in combating violence against women.

Perhaps most importantly, these tools are helping reduce stigma attached to these abuses.

This is something that must remain high up on our list of priorities.

We need to be absolutely clear across the world that the stigma attached to victims is not only unjust, it is utterly misplaced.  

What makes the stigma of violence against women – in particular rape – even more intolerable is that it piles injustice upon injustice.

The stigma pushes those who have suffered into positions of even deeper marginalisation and exclusion.

It makes it more difficult for women to retain and regain their dignity.

It puts hope for a better future even further out of reach.

So let us use the Istanbul Convention to rectify this injustice.

The victims of violence have already waited too long.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Protecting women from violence is not some luxury that we can deal with when we have time on our hands.

It is a core imperative for every human being in every society.

Let us not forget that everyone has a stake in this endeavor.

Everyone benefits from protecting women from violence.

Every woman. Every man. Every nation.

I leave this Conference inspired and full of resolve for the future – in large part thanks to all of you.

At the end of our Confference, I want to close one chapter and open another.

The chapter we are closing is that of shaping the standards we needed to improve the lives of women and girls in Europe.

Now that we have them, the chapter we are opening is that of their implementation.

It is my sincere hope that this celebration is the beginning of an era where we use the letter and spirit of the Istanbul Convention to guide us in our daily lives, as professionals, as practitioners and as private individuals.

For no matter how powerful the Convention may be as a standard, it is not an end in itself.

It is a call to action.

It is a call on parliaments and parliamentarians to re-double their efforts to review legislation and monitor the effectiveness of measures.

It is a call on local authorities and civil society to help maintain the momentum that we are now witnessing.

I know that I am speaking for many of you when I say that we will not relent.

We will not rest until we turn into practical implementation the many commitments and the tremendous support that we have seen from all over the world here in Rome.

Let us now get down to work to ensure that women and girls are safe from fear and safe from violence,

Thank you.