A delegation of the Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) is carrying out an evaluation visit to Denmark from 1 to 5 May 2017. This visit follows GREVIO’s review of Denmark’s state report and the state dialogue with the Danish representatives held in Strasbourg on 4 April. It is one of the steps in the procedure to monitor the implementation of the Istanbul Convention by Denmark.

The Istanbul Convention, also known as Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, is based on the understanding that states must fully address gender-based violence in all its forms and take measures to prevent such violence, protect the victims and prosecute the perpetrators. GREVIO has only recently launched its first (baseline) evaluation of the Convention and Denmark is the fourth state party to undergo the procedure.

The GREVIO delegation is led by Rosa Logar, First Vice-President, and Iris Luarasi and supported by two specialists: Professor Marianne Hester of Bristol University and London-based barrister Malek Wan Daud. Two members of the Council of Europe Secretariat based in Strasbourg will also form part of the group.

Meetings will be held with several ministries, including the Ministry of Justice, Children and Social Affairs, Education, Health and with representatives of the Minister for Equal Opportunities. To evaluate the conditions of women asylum-seekers, the GREVIO delegation will visit the refugee reception facility in Sandholm. Meetings with civil society and NGOs will include representatives of specialist support services which offer counselling to victims of domestic violence, stalking, rape, forced marriage and female genital mutilation, as well as lawyers, health professionals, media and the national institute for human rights.  

Although no comment can be made on its findings during the visit, GREVIO plans to publish its evaluation report before the end of 2017.