Violence against Women: our concern, our response
A side event at the 57th Session
of the Commission on the Status of Women

New York - ECOSOC, UN Headquarters - Monday, 4 March 2013, 1.15 - 2.30 pm

Background

Every day women are stalked, harassed, raped, mutilated, forced by their family to enter into a marriage, sterilised against their will or psychologically and physically abused in the “safety” of their own homes. The examples of violence against women are endless, its victims countless. Many women are too afraid or ashamed to seek help, often paying for their silence with their lives. Those that do speak out are not always heard. Domestic violence is another form of violence that is far too common and that affects not only women, but men, children and the elderly as well.

The Side Event will present the added value of the Istanbul Convention in the framework of international and regional legally binding treaties. It will also highlight its significance as an efficient and practical tool for governments to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence in Europe and beyond.

The Istanbul Convention

Opened for signature in May 2011, the Istanbul Convention is the first legally binding instrument in Europe to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence and in terms of scope it is the most far-reaching international treaty to tackle this serious violation of human rights. It aims at zero tolerance for violence against women and domestic violence and is a major step forward in making Europe and beyond a safer place. Preventing violence, protecting its victims and prosecuting the perpetrators are the cornerstones of the Convention, as is the requirement to co-ordinate any such measures through comprehensive policies. In essence, it is a renewed call for greater equality between women and men, because violence against women is deeply rooted in women's inequality in society and is perpetuated by a culture of tolerance and denial.

The Convention covers victims from any background, regardless of their age, race, religion, social origin, migrant status or sexual orientation and calls for the criminalisation of psychological violence, stalking, sexual harassment, forced marriage, female genital mutilation, forced abortion and forced sterilisation.

To date, the Convention has been ratified by the following 3 member states of the Council of Europe : Albania, Portugal and Turkey and has been signed by 24 member states of the Council of Europe : Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Serbia, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, the "former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia", Ukraine and United Kingdom.

Any Council of Europe member or observer state, any other state or the European Union may sign and ratify the Convention. It will enter into force following the ratification by 10 countries, including 8 Council of Europe member states. An independent group of experts (GREVIO) will be set up to monitor implementation of the Convention by States Parties.