There is
a clear need for a Convention to prevent and combat domestic violence and
other forms of violence against women and to protect and support the
victims. The Council of Europe is the first European organisation to tackle
this problem head on by setting up the Ad Hoc Committee on Preventing and
Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence which, beginning in
April 2009, will start working on one or more legally binding instruments.
Description: The committee of government experts responsible for preparing
one or more binding legal instruments for preventing and combating domestic
violence and other forms of violence against women, protecting and
supporting victims of such violence and prosecuting the perpetrators is to
meet in Strasbourg for the first time from 6 to 8 April.
The first meeting of the ad hoc Committee on preventing and combating
violence against women and domestic violence (CAHVIO) will be devoted to
examining its terms of reference and discuss the scope of the future
instrument, which should be completed by 2010.
Violence against women, which includes physical, sexual and psychological
violence, forced marriages, "honour" crimes and genital
mutilation, is a widespread phenomenon, as indicated in Recommendation Rec(2002)5
on the protection of women against violence, which sets out the forms of
violence perpetrated within the family or household.
According to an analysis carried out by the Council of Europe in 2006:
· A fifth to a quarter of women are subjected to physical violence at
least once in their adult lives, and over a tenth of women are victims of
sexual violence involving the use of force;
· Women are most likely to be physically or sexually attacked by former
partners, which shows that they are not sufficiently protected when they
put an end to an abusive relationship;
· The cost to society of domestic violence is enormous. Studies have shown
that in certain countries it can be as much as 34 billion euros per year.
The Council of Europe has carried out a wide-ranging awareness campaign at
governmental, parliamentary, local and regional level to combat domestic
violence against women, which came to an end in 2008. The preparation of a
binding legal instrument is an extra step towards greater respect for
women's fundamental rights.
Further information: http://www.coe.int/t/DGHL/StandardSetting/Violence/
Press contact: Estelle Steiner
Tel. +33 (0)3 88 41 33 35, Mobile +33 (0)6 08 46 01 57
Council of Europe Directorate of Communication
Tel: +33 (0)3 88 41 25 60
Fax:+33 (0)3 88 41 39 11
