11 | - Número: 001 | 16 de Julho de 2011

1. Title: Support to the parliamentary dimension of the campaign for the promotion of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) during the period 2012-2013.
2. Location: Council of Europe, Strasbourg 3. Duration of overall project (campaign): 24 months (2012-2013) 4. Total amount: € 180 000 5. Context and state of play of the campaign and its parliamentary dimension: a) Violence against women and domestic violence Despite positive developments in law, policies and practices, violence against women still occurs at all levels of society, in all Council of Europe member states. It is estimated that one-fifth to one-quarter of all women have experienced physical violence at least once during their adult lives and more than one-tenth have suffered sexual violence involving the use of force. Figures for all forms of violence, including stalking, are as high as 45%. The majority of such violent acts are carried out by men in their immediate social environment, most often by partners and ex-partners.
Since the 1990s, the Council of Europe has taken a firm political stance against all forms of violence against women; it has recognised violence against women, including domestic violence, as a human rights violation and called for legally-binding standards on preventing, protecting against and prosecuting the most severe and widespread forms of gender-based violence.
The intergovernmental side of the Council of Europe responded positively to these appeals by setting up, in December 2008, an Ad Hoc Committee of experts on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (CAHVIO), with the objective of drafting a Convention in this field.
The Assembly was actively involved in the negotiation process through the Committee on Equal Opportunities for Women and Men. Further to the conclusion of CAHVIO’s work, on 7 April 2011, the Ministers’ Deputies adopted the Convention, which was subsequently opened for signature at the ministerial conference in Istanbul, of 11 May 2011. The so-called Istanbul Convention has so far been signed by 13 member States. It will enter into force on the first day of the month following the expiration of a period of three months after the date on which 10 signatories, including at least eight member States of the Council of Europe, have expressed their consent to be bound by the Convention.

b) The Istanbul Convention The Istanbul Convention is a groundbreaking instrument: it is the first international legally-binding instrument in the world to provide for a comprehensive set of measures in the field of preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence; it is also the first convention in the world to foresee a specific role for parliaments in monitoring its implementation at national level.
The Convention is also open to accession by non-Council of Europe member states.
National parliaments are among the main stakeholders both when it comes to passing national legislation and raising the awareness of the general public. Through the Parliamentary Assembly, they are provided with the essential tools to actively participate in the campaign, raise awareness on violence against women and domestic violence amongst the general public and to initiate concrete political and legislative measures in their countries.
Other Council of Europe conventions were effectively promoted through previous campaigns and thanks to the excellent co-operation between the intergovernmental sector of the Council of Europe and the Parliamentary Assembly.

c) The Council of Europe campaign The Council of Europe campaign for promoting the signature and ratification of the Istanbul Convention started after the opening of the Convention for signature, and is planned to be very intense but short, with an estimated duration of two years. It will be based on the production of campaigning materials, the organisations of conferences and specialised regional seminars as well as of events aimed at raising the public opinion’s awareness on violence against women and domestic violence.