This motion has not been discussed in the Assembly and commits only those who have signed it.
On 11 May 2011, at the ministerial conference in Istanbul,
the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence
against Women and Domestic Violence was signed by 13 Council of Europe
member states.
As the first international convention in the world addressing
the specific issue of violence against women, the Istanbul convention
is a landmark instrument, confirming the leading role of the Council
of Europe in the field of standard setting.
This convention also recognises a role for national parliaments
in monitoring its implementation and invites the Parliamentary Assembly
to regularly stake stock of it.
The Assembly, which has been strongly involved in the initiation,
elaboration and opening for signature of the Istanbul convention,
should strongly recommend its signature and ratification by the
largest number of countries in Europe and outside. It should also
call for accession by the European Union and promote it as a model
for regional conventions, through the United Nations Women’s Agency.
