[Brussels, 4 May 2018] The European Coalition to End Violence against Women have sent a strong letter of support to the Council of Europe in support of the
Convention on Preventing and Combatting Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, the Istanbul Convention.
Convened by the European Women’s Lobby, the
European Coalition to End violence against women and girls, is a strategic alliance of more than 27 human rights civil society networks and European NGO’s dedicated to social justice and equality in Europe. We advocate for the ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention by the European Union and all Member States and the eradication of violence against women and girls.
The Istanbul Convention is the most comprehensive legal international treaty that combats violence against women and domestic violence. Its provisions aim to prevent violence, prosecute perpetrators and protect victims of violence whilst implementing integrated policies that provide the adequate framework to accomplish these aims. Thirty of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe, including 17 EU member states, have now ratified the Convention; committing to protecting women and girls from this most pervasive violation of human rights.
Over recent weeks, there has been growing opposition to the Convention due to misleading campaigns from populist movements across Europe based on deliberate misinterpretations of the purpose of the Convention. To combat this the European Coalition came to together with hundreds of supporting organisations in a unified voice to emphasise the importance of the Convention and combatting all forms of violence against women and girls.
With over 3800 signatures of organisations representing millions of voices, we declare loud and united our continued support for the Istanbul Convention and the dedicated work of the Council of Europe!
Violence against women and girls is not abstract; it is a European issue that demands a European answer!
You can read the letter in full below and you can learn more about the organisations and work of the European Coalition to end violence against women here.
Find out more in our Factsheet on the EU ratification of the Istanbul Convention.
You can also sign our “Rise up against violence!” petition calling to make Europe a safe space for women and girls, which has been already signed by over150.000 citizens!
European Coalition letter to Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Attached documents
