11 May 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention.
In order to mark this occasion, the Council of Europe Office in Pristina and the Agency for Gender Equality organised an online round-table discussion between high-level figures to discuss the importance of the Convention, its ongoing relevance across Europe, and the implications of the decision by the National Assembly last year to give direct effect to the Convention in the Constitution. A total of 80 local and international participants joined the event.
Opening remarks were offered by Frank Power, Head of Council of Europe Office in Pristina, featured by keynote speeches of Dr. Vjosa Osmani-Sadriu, President of Kosovo*, Albin Kurti, Prime Minister, Ambassador Joern Rohde, German Ambassador to Kosovo*, Ambassador Michael Davenport, Head of OSCE Mission in Kosovo, Claudia Luciani, Director, Directorate of Human Dignity, Equality and Governance, Council of Europe, Sakibe Doli, NGO Safe House in Gjakova, and Edi Gusia, Head of Agency for Gender Equality.
All distinguished speakers in their remarks acknowledged the importance of implementing the standards of the Istanbul Convention and stated that priority should be given to combating violence against women and domestic violence.
During the event, a series of short videos produced by the Agency for Gender Equality marking the 10th anniversary of the Istanbul Convention was shared and will be broadcasted in the national TV.
*All reference to Kosovo, whether to the territory, institutions, or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nations Security Council resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
