Today, as the 16 days of Activism against Gender-based Violence draw to a close, GREVIO calls for continued action to end all forms of violence against women by ratifying or implementing the Istanbul Convention, the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. GREVIO is committed to keeping up its monitoring of the implementation of the convention’s standards to protect the right of women and girls to live free from violence. Rigorous implementation of the Convention saves lives.

During its five years of existence, GREVIO has carried out 20 evaluation visits, three of these during the COVID-19 pandemic, and has published baseline evaluation reports on 17 state parties. The three most recent reports were published during the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-based Violence and offer important guidance to ensure that the provisions of the Istanbul Convention are fully implemented.

Earlier this year, GREVIO called on Parties to the Istanbul Convention to uphold its standards during the COVID-19 pandemic. GREVIO reiterates its call to ensure that women and girls are supported and protected from any form of violence against them during this period of renewed restrictions.