IPPF: Fighting for the eradicatio​n of violence against women on Internatio​nal Women’s Day 2012 - Europe has a crucial role to play

On the eve of International Women’s Day 2012 IPPF EN calls on all 47 member states of the Council of Europe and the European Union to demonstrate their concrete commitment to ensure women’s rights and the eradication of violence against women by ratifying the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

"We welcomed the adoption of the Convention at the Ministerial Session of the Council of Europe’s Committee of Ministers in Istanbul on 10-11 May 2011. The adoption of the Convention is a major step towards ending violence against women in Europe. This new treaty establishes a framework to prevent,investigate and prosecute; and ultimately, eliminate violence against women.

This Convention will ensure progress in recognizing and protecting women’s human rights particularly as related to sexuality. We strongly support the inclusion in the treaty of up-to-date models for legislation on the definitions of rape and sexual violence, domestic violence,stalking, and sexual harassment, based on the principles of equality and non-discrimination. The violation of women’s sexual rights has a dramatic impact on their lives and is a key concern for our Federation.

We therefore call on all 47 member states of the Council of Europe and the European Union to ratify the Convention and to implement it. "