EWL Danish members support Denmark's intention to accede to the Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence

[Copenhagen, 27 June, 2013] On 27 June 2013, the Danish government has decided to sign the European Convention on violence against women.

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The Ministry of Justice has examined to what consequences it would have for Danish law to accede to the Convention. According to a new legal review of the Justice Department there will be no major regulatory problems. The Danish Women’s Council has long pressed for Danish membership of the Convention, and therefore we are pleased with this decision. Rasmus Horn Langhoff, equality spokesman for the Social Democrats is also pleased. ‘It is gratifying that we are now ready to endorse the Council of Europe Convention on combating violence against women. Violence against women is a very serious problem, and of course Denmark leads the fight for equality and against violence’, says Rasmus Horn Langhoff. Since May 2011, the Danish Government has had the opportunity to sign the Council of Europe Convention on violence against women. 30 states have signed, including Norway, Sweden and Finland. The government is not fully over the line just yet, because the Convention has not yet been signed. The government expects to submit a bill regarding Denmark acceding to the Convention during the next parliamentary session. Members of the Observatory at the Women’s Council in Denmark had an audience with the Equality Commission on 22 May. The Observatory recommended that Denmark join the Convention, covering the areas of prevention, protection and prosecution. A monitoring organization shall ensure that states comply with the Convention. Translation of the article ”Nu vil Danmark underskrive konvention om vold mod kvinder”

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