A handbook for parliamentarians on the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence
Violence against women is a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women. The Istanbul Convention aims to prevent violence, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators through a comprehensive set of policies and measures. It aims to contribute to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women, promote substantive equality between women and men and promote international co-operation with a view to eliminating violence against women and domestic violence.
This handbook aspires to be a practical resource for parliamentarians across the political spectrum and from all political systems, regardless of whether their country has already ratified or is yet to ratify the Istanbul Convention. It aims to strengthen parliamentary knowledge about the convention and to support parliamentarians across Europe to play an active role in promoting its ratification and implementation. It also presents examples5 of how parliamentarians can use their legislative, oversight and other functions to help end violence against women and domestic violence.
ABBREVIATIONS GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS COUNCIL OF EUROPE: UPHOLDING WOMEN’S RIGHTS, STRIVING TO ACHIEVE GENDER EQUALITY AND TO END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
The Council of Europe in brief
The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe: combating violence against women
1. WHY THIS HANDBOOK? 2. THE SCOURGE OF VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN 3. THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION: A COMPREHENSIVE LEGAL AND POLICY FRAMEWORK TO END GENDERBASED VIOLENCE
3.1. Istanbul Convention: its purpose and scope
3.2. Countering misinformation about the Istanbul Convention
4. HOW IS IMPLEMENTATION OF THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION MONITORED?
4.1. State reporting
4.2. Urgent inquiry procedure
4.3. General recommendations
4.4. Monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Convention: what role for parliaments?
5. THE ROLE OF PARLIAMENTARIANS IN SUPPORTING THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION
5.1. Promoting ratification of the Istanbul Convention
5.2. Monitoring and supporting the implementation of the convention
5.3. Parliamentary engagement in GREVIO’s monitoring
5.4. What structures and mechanisms are there for promoting implementation?
5.5. Summing up
6. IN-HOUSE EXPERTISE AND EXTERNAL ALLIANCES
6.1. In-house expertise
6.2. External alliances and expertise
7. CONCLUSION APPENDIX 1 – CHECKLIST FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS: HOW TO SUPPORT THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION APPENDIX 2 – TEXT OF THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION ON PREVENTING AND COMBATING VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE (CETS NO. 210) APPENDIX 3 – ADDITIONAL READING AND RESOURCES
Selected Council of Europe sources
Selected international instruments
Other useful links
