Violence against women is the most common violation of women’s human rights in Europe, but progress with policy and legal reform to tackle this phenomenon is slow. The Council of Europe is playing a leading role in preventing and combating all forms of violence against women through ground-breaking standards and awareness-raising activities.

Violence against women remains widespread in all member States of the Council of Europe, with devastating consequences for women, societies and economies. Opened for signature in May 2011, the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) is the most far-reaching international treaty to tackle this serious violation of human rights.

Information about the Istanbul Convention

 Link to the website: Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)

Collection of papers on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence :

 

 Amnesty International and the Council of Europe guide on the Istanbul Convention as a tool to end female genital mutilation - (November 2014)

 "The Role of Specialist Women's Support Services in Europe" (WAVE, 2016)

The CSW 57 Agreed conclusions on the elimination and prevention of all forms of violence against women and girls uphold the holistic response of the Istanbul Convention and its progressive understanding of violence against women and States responsibilities

The Istanbul Convention and the CEDAW framework: A comparison of measures to prevent and combat violence against women

European Women’s Lobby “Action Kit” : Act against rape! Use the Istanbul Convention!

Recommendation Rec (2002) 5 and other Tools of the Council of Europe concerning Violence against Women

Recommendation Rec (2002) 5 of the Committee of Ministers on the Protection of Women against Violence

 

Information on the Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings

The Council of Europe Convention on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings recognises that trafficking in human being is a heavily gendered phenomenon and contains several strong references to gender equality and gender mainstreaming.

Tools and Publications

New HELP online course on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence - 2017 

Declaration of the Committee of Ministers on the need to intensify the efforts to prevent and combat female genital mutilation and forced marriage in Europe - 2017

Study “ Improving the management of violence experienced by women who use psychoactive substances”, by the Council of Europe Pompidou Group - Co-operation Group to Combat Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking in Drugs, (March 2016).

Overview of Studies on the Costs of Violence against Women and domestic Violence (2012)

Combating violence against women: Stocktaking study on the measures and actions taken in Council of Europe member states - (2006)