On 25 November the event “Ten years of the Istanbul Convention of the Council of Europe: a reflection on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” took place at Ca’ Foscari University of Venice.

The debate focused on the role and impact of the Convention on legislation and policies in Europe. It also highlighted the increased violence incidents and gender inequalities in Europe and Italy due to the Covid 19 pandemic.

Carlien Scheele, Director of the European Institute for Gender Equality (EIGE), Francesca Montagna, of the Secretariat of the Istanbul Convention monitoring mechanisms, and Linda Laura Sabbadini, Director of studies of social and demographic statistics at the Italian Central Statistical Office ISTAT, intervened among others at the event.

Francesca Montagna spoke on the Istanbul Convention and its monitoring mechanism, Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), while Eleonora Esposito of EIGE drew attention on the estimated cost of violence against women in the European Union which would amount to 289 bn euros per year.