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 Turkey from 30 October to 5 November 2017. This visit follows GREVIO’s review of Turkey’s state report and the state dialogue with the Turkish representatives held in Strasbourg on 11 October 2017. It is one of the steps in the procedure to monitor the implementation of the Istanbul Convention by Turkey.

The Istanbul Convention, also known as 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 Turkey is the fifth state party to undergo the procedure.

The GREVIO delegation is led by Rosa Logar, Françoise Brié and Biljana Brankovic and supported by Mr Anthony Wills, international expert. Two members of the Council of Europe Secretariat based in Strasbourg will also form part of the group.

Meetings will be held with several ministries, including the Ministry of Family and Social Policy, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Interior, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Health, etc. Meetings with civil society and NGOs will include representatives of specialist support services and advocacy NGOs.

Although no comment can be made on its findings during the visit, GREVIO plans to publish its evaluation report before the end of 2018.