A delegation of the Council of Europe's Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) will carry out an evaluation visit to Netherlands from 11 to 15 March 2019. This visit is one of the steps in the procedure to monitor the implementation by the Netherlands of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention).

The Istanbul Convention 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.

Meetings will be held with representatives from different Ministries: Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport; Ministry of Justice and Security; Ministry of Education, Culture and Science; Ministry of Social Affairs and Employment; etc. In addition, GREVIO will meet with members of the Dutch Municipality Association; Organisations of Safe at home; Centres for Sexual Violence and Women’s Shelter. Meetings with civil society and NGOs will include representatives of specialist services, as well as lawyers working in the area of violence against women, including those with a specific focus on migrant women.

GREVIO plans to publish its evaluation report during 2020.