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 Portugal from 19 to 23 March 2018. This visit follows GREVIO’s review of Portugal’s state report and the state dialogue with the Portuguese representatives held in Strasbourg on 22 February 2018. It is one of the steps in the procedure to monitor the implementation of the Istanbul Convention by Portugal.

The Istanbul Convention, also known as the 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 Portugal is the seventh state party to undergo the procedure.

The GREVIO delegation is led by Simona Lanzoni and Vesna Ratkovic and supported by two specialists Anthony Wills and Malek Wan Daud. A member of the Council of Europe Secretariat based in Strasbourg will also form part of the group.

Meetings will be held with several public institutions and ministries, including the Commission for Citizenship and Gender Equality, the High Commission for Migration, the Ministries of Labour, Solidarity and Social Security, Justice, Internal Affairs, Education and Health, etc. Meetings with civil society and NGOs will include representatives of specialist support services and lawyers practicing in the field.

Although no comment can be made on its findings during the visit, GREVIO plans to publish its evaluation report on Portugal by early 2019.