14 | - Número: 025 | 4 de Fevereiro de 2012

case, these should be conducted in a manner that respects the rights of victims at all stages of the proceedings and that avoids secondary victimisation.
22. The convention also includes provisions on the stage of the investigations. This is often a very delicate stage as, in reality, a high proportion of complaints are not registered or acted upon, often because of the lack of a legal basis to do so. According to the convention, law enforcement agencies will have to respond to calls for help, collect evidence and assess the risk of further violence to adequately protect the victims. 4.4. A holistic approach including prevention and integrated policies 23. The convention is based on the premise that no single agency or institution can deal with violence against women and domestic violence alone. An effective response requires concerted action by different actors. The experience of countries where this is already being done shows that results are improved when law enforcement agencies, the judiciary, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), child protection agencies and other relevant partners join forces.
24. Along the same lines, prevention occupies a major place in the framework of the convention: states parties are required to train professionals who are in close contact with the victims, regularly organise awareness-raising campaigns, take steps to include issues such as gender equality and non-violent conflict resolution in teaching material, set up treatment programmes for perpetrators of domestic violence and sex offenders, involve the media and the private sector in eradicating gender stereotypes and promoting mutual respect, and work closely with NGOs. 4.5. A strong, independent and innovative monitoring mechanism 25. The convention establishes a strong, independent mechanism to monitor its implementation at national level. It will be two-pronged, with one body, GREVIO (Group of experts on action against violence against women and domestic violence), composed of a minimum of 10 members and a maximum of 15 members, and the Committee of the Parties, composed of the representatives of the states parties to the convention.
26. GREVIO members are to be chosen in a transparent manner from a group of people of high moral character, known for their recognised competence in the fields of human rights, gender equality, violence against women and domestic violence, or assistance to and protection of victims, or having demonstrated professional experience in the areas covered by the convention. They will sit in the GREVIO in their individual capacity and be independent and impartial in the exercise of their functions.
27. Using a report-based procedure, the GREVIO will assess how the states parties implement the convention. In addition to reports received from the state party under scrutiny, it may draw on information from NGOs. Should the information be insufficient or should a particular issue require immediate attention, the GREVIO may travel to the country in question for an inquiry. On the basis of the information at its disposal, the GREVIO may adopt reports and conclusions aimed at helping the state party to better implement the convention. It may also adopt general recommendations addressed to all states parties.
28. Finally, the convention introduces an innovative parliamentary monitoring, with national parliaments being involved in the procedure at national level and, at European level, with the Parliamentary Assembly being called on to regularly take stock of the implementation of the convention.
5. How to promote the convention 5.1. At intergovernmental level 29. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is also the result of a campaign which was conducted in the period 2006-2008. The Council of Europe does not intend to organise a second campaign to promote the signature and ratification of the convention, but it has nonetheless set in motion a number of activities to this end.
30. In 2011, regional seminars took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the Slovak Republic, bringing together 28 member states of the Council of Europe. These events reconciled the political and technical dimensions, making it possible for the Council of Europe to publicise the convention while providing legal expertise to states from the region. A third similar regional event will take place in spring 2012. Between October and December 2011, the convention was presented at 15 different national and international events organised by external partners of the Council of Europe. In addition, the Council of Europe is finalising a