(Brussels 16 May) The Council of Europe Convention for preventing and combating violence against women (Istanbul Convention) is a real breakthrough as it sets minimum international standards for the protection of women from male violence. Signed in May 2011, the convention has to date only been ratified by four countries – Albania, Montenegro, Portugal and Turkey. States that have ratified the Convention are legally-bound by its provisions once it enters into force. It will come into force following 10 ratifications, 8 of which must be member states of the Council of Europe.
Representatives from women’s NGOs from the Balkans recently met in Zagreb to coordinate their efforts to agitate and to raise awareness and to convince their governments to ratify the Convention. Representatives from the Autonomous Women’s Centre (Belgrade), SOS Telephone (Ljubljana), United Women (Banja Luka), Centre for Women War Victims-ROSA (Zagreb) and National Council of women of Republic of Macedonia (UWOM) are working in concert to achieve this aim.
As associated partner, the EWL represented by Colette De Troy, was invited to take part of the meeting to present examples of successful actions for the convention – (like the lobbying kit ) and to discuss further synergies in view of the ratification of all the EU countries and the EU. The meeting provided the opportunity to discuss the proposal to use the results of the soon to be published 2013 EWL Barometer on Rape, which will illustrate the need for important changes in legislation, data collection and services to support women victims of violence.
