11/05/2011 Equality and Non-Discrimination
Strasbourg, 11.05.2011 – “Today the Council of Europe has established a crucial landmark on the way to ensuring the equal enjoyment of human rights by women and men,” said José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), Chairperson of PACE’s Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, speaking in Istanbul, where he is taking part in the ceremony for the opening for signature of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.
“Violence against women is a human rights violation which thrives on gender discrimination and unequal power relations between women and men in society. The Istanbul Convention places a powerful tool into the hands of states for eradicating this evil, saving millions of victims and delivering justice.”
“I am delighted that 13 Council of Europe member states – including Turkey, the current Chair of the Committee of Ministers – have taken the lead in signing the Convention this morning. This is an important political sign that violence against women and domestic violence must end. I call on all Council of Europe member states and the European Union to become parties to our Convention as soon as possible, so that its great potential is exploited to the full.”
“For its part, the PACE network of contact parliamentarians committed to combating violence against women stands ready to support the Istanbul Convention, with a view to promoting its signature, ratification and effective implementation by the largest possible number of states, and to carry out visibility and awareness-raising activities amongst the general public.”