Back International Women’s Day: vital goals have been achieved but more needs to be done

International Women’s Day: vital goals have been achieved but more needs to be done

To mark International Women’s Day, Secretary-General Thorbjørn Jagland stated that vital goals to end violence against women have been achieved but more progress is needed. With 34 ratifications – including by Ireland – the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (known as “Istanbul convention”) has proven to be an increasingly effective and recognised international legal instrument.

Find out about the Council of Europe's quiz on the Istanbul Convention

For her part, the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatović emphasised that women’s rights are human rights and that gender equality is a fundamental value of our societies. We need to stand up for gender equality and reverse any stagnation in its implementation. Past advances in sexual and reproductive health and rights have been closely associated with women’s rights, and have enabled women to make autonomous and informed decisions about their bodies, health, sexuality and whether or not to have children. States have an obligation to ensure that women can access affordable, safe and good-quality reproductive health services.

Timo Soini, the Finnish President of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe stressed the importance of eliminating any women’s rights violations, especially harassment and hate speech towards them, since this weakens their ability to exercise their rights and pursue opportunities.

Strasbourg 08/03/2019
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