24/04/2014 Equality and Non-Discrimination
“I welcome the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by Andorra and Denmark which respectively became the 10th and 11th member states of the Council of Europe to ratify this legal instrument. I encourage all other Council of Europe member States to join, following Albania, Andorra, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Italy, Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia, Spain and Turkey,” said José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), General Rapporteur on violence against women and Political Coordinator of the Parliamentary Network “Women Free from Violence”.
“With its upcoming entry into force, the ‘gold standard’ for preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence becomes a concrete tool for the protection of victims. I hope that its monitoring mechanism, the Group of experts on action against violence against women and domestic violence (GREVIO), will be put in place as soon as possible and look forward to the Parliamentary Assembly’s cooperation with the GREVIO,” he continued.
“The extent of violence against women and the lack of awareness around it indicate that this Convention will be the starting point of a long process to change the heart and minds of people,” Mr Mendes Bota concluded.