WUNRN
Istanbul Convention on Violence
Against Women Info: http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/standardsetting/convention-violence/about_en.asp
PRESS RELEASE
The EU
On the 1st of August 2014, the Istanbul Convention will come into force. For Women against Violence Europe (WAVE) and all of our Focal Points and Partners, the upcoming event is a tremendous accomplishment in the history of the Women’s Movement. The Istanbul Convention is the first ever truly comprehensive instrument at the European level which addresses violence against women. As of beginning of July 2014, 13 countries have already ratified the Convention, and 23 have signed it. The Convention’s coming into force is an important step, and strong implementation and commitment of member states is needed to effectively work towards preventing and combating violence against women and their children.
Important themes of the Convention include Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Substantive law and Monitoring. Prevention of violence against women and domestic violence is essential to save multiple lives and lower human suffering. The Convention sets requirements for governments for preventative work to function, including training of professionals who are in contact with victims, working closely with NGOs, involving the media and private sector in eradicating gender stereotypes and other points. Along with the state, it is also important that each individual challenges gender stereotypes, harmful traditional practices and discrimination against women.
Protection – The Convention strives to provide victims and witnesses with protection and support, including police intervention and protection through support services such as specialist service provision including women’s shelters, telephone helplines, etc. In order to incorporate protection into a women’s life, it is significant to ensure that victims have access to adequate information on available services. In addition, it involves having well distributed women’s shelters and 24/7 telephone helplines free of charge.
Substantive law – With regards to substantive law, the Convention tries to push state parties to introduce a number of new offenses which have not existed before such as psychological and physical violence, sexual violence and rape, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, forced abortion and forced sterilization.
Monitoring – Lastly it is essential to make sure that state parties live up to their obligation, meaning that once the Convention will come into force, a group of independent experts called GREVIO will measure the extent to which state parties have implemented the Convention.
Prosecution – The Convention does not stop at the identification of the different forms of violence against women, but it also requires state parties to integrate these new offenses into their national legislation, and ensure the effective investigation of any allegation of violence against women, and domestic violence. The prosecution and punishment of perpetrators is essential for survivors to achieve justice, and resume lives free from violence.
In order to support the implementation of the Istanbul
Convention, at the onset of 16 days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence
2013 Campaign, WAVE launched the ‘ISIGN’ campaign, part of the Autonomous
Women’s Center (Serbia)-led project ‘Coordinated Efforts – Toward New European
Standards in Protection of Women from Gender Based Violence’. The campaign has
been simultaneously carried out together with three Focal Points from two
Western Balkan States (
The area of specialist victim support for women
survivors of violence and their children is expected to experience improvement,
if states commit themselves to effectively implement the Istanbul Convention.
WAVE’s work in promoting the establishment and improvement of women’s services
is long-standing. On an annual basis, with support from co-funding by the
European Commission, WAVE publishes the Country Report, providing information
on the current situation of available specialist services across 46 European
Countries. Findings of the WAVE Country Report 2013 indicate an existing gap of
approximately 55,242 shelter places in the 46 countries, while also showing that
not every country in
WAVE calls upon European countries to sign and ratify the Istanbul Convention, and welcomes the progresses made to date. It also recognizes that significant efforts and commitments by states are still needed to effectively contribute to preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. WAVE hopes that, by working cooperatively with governments and the civil society, all forms and types of violence against women can one day be history.
Contact: Maria Rösslhumer, WAVE Manager -
maria.roesslhumer@aoef.at ;
or the WAVE Office - office@wave-network.org
For more information about WAVE activities and
publications, and subscribe to the WAVE Newsletter, go to the WAVE website –
www.wave-network.org