Council of Europe adopts Convention on Violence against Women

At their 1111th meeting on 6 April 2011, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence and Domestic Violence against Women. The Convention is now open for signature to all states, in Europe and beyond, until 11 May 2011, when the next Ministerial Session of the Committee of Ministers is to meet in Istambul, Turkey.

It is clear that this Convention is controversial. Many states already made declarations stating that they would not use the Convention. Russia, Bulgaria and others said they would not ratify it. On the positive side Norway, Germany, Slovakia and Spain said they would proceed to its rapid signature.

This new landmark treaty of the Council of Europe opens the path for creating a legal framework at pan-European level to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence.

All those who are committeed to eradicating violence against women will be equipped with this far-reaching legal instrument. The Convention also establishes a specific monitoring mechanism in order to ensure effective implementation of its provisions.

The Convention itself coincides and strengthens the recently unanimously adopted European Parliament report on "EU policy framework to fight violence against women" drafted by Eva-Britt Svensson (GUE/NGL, SV).

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