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

42. Some of the possible measures to be considered include: – appointing an Assembly general rapporteur on violence against women in accordance with the Assembly's Rules of Procedure, to give political visibility to the subject and ensure that, at any given time, the Assembly has its interlocutor vis-à-vis counterparts in other organisations. The mandate of the general rapporteur would be to follow developments in the area of violence against women in Council of Europe member states and prepare a report to be debated in the Assembly. The general rapporteur should also follow developments concerning the Istanbul Convention and, in so far as possible, the European Union, Council of Europe observer states and states or entities whose parliaments enjoy the status of partner of democracy with the Assembly. It would also increase synergy and consistency if the general rapporteur also acted as political coordinator of the Network of contact parliamentarians committed to combating violence against women; – publishing a handbook explaining the convention and addressed to parliamentarians, in order to enhance knowledge of the convention and model legislation; – calling for voluntary contributions from national parliaments to supplement the resources made available through the Assembly budget.
5.3. Reinforcing the partnership with civil society and non-governmental organisations 43. It is essential for the Council of Europe to establish a partnership and organise joint visibility and awareness-raising events with civil society and non-governmental organisations, in order to bring together all the stakeholders who could put pressure on national governments to sign the Istanbul Convention, as well as to ensure that the general public, as well as the victims and potential victims of gender-based violence, know about this instrument.
5.4. Reinforcing the Council of Europe’s overall visibility in the area of gender equality 44. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is an invaluable visiting card for our Organisation, which builds upon years of serious and reputable work to promote equality and dignity of human beings. However, there is need for a political figure to present this card and to continue to raise the Council of Europe’s visibility and profile in the area of gender equality.
45. The Assembly should call on the Secretary General of the Council of Europe to appoint a Council of Europe Special Envoy on gender equality, to ensure the political visibility of the Council of Europe’s work at the highest level and represent the Organisation with external interlocutors, such as UN Women and other relevant human rights bodies and mechanisms.
6. Where it should be promoted 6.1. In Europe 46. The first objective is to ensure that more Council of Europe member states sign the Istanbul Convention, and that at least a minimum number of states which have already signed it conclude the ratification process as soon as possible.
47. This is particularly urgent because the Istanbul Convention will enter into force only 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 ratified it.21 48. The next target, however, should be the European Union. The Committee of Ministers should establish a close dialogue with the European Union on the issue of violence against women, with a view to avoiding double standards or contradictions between the Council of Europe convention and EU legislation in this field. In addition, after the accession of the European Union to the European Convention on Human Rights (ETS No. 5) has been concluded, the European Union should be encouraged to accede to the Istanbul Convention.22 6.2. Worldwide 49. The Istanbul Convention is an “open instrument”. This means that, after its entry into force, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe may, through consultation with the states parties and after obtaining their unanimous consent, invite any non-member state of the Council of Europe which has not been involved in the drafting of the convention, to accede to it. The relevant decision can be taken by the Committee of Ministers with a two-thirds majority, including the unanimous vote of the parties to the convention who are also members of the Council of Europe.23