20 | - Número: 010 | 30 de Novembro de 2012

The 51 members of the Parliamentary Network « Women Free from Violence » are aware of the necessity to act and are committed to combating violence against women at the European and national levels. They are members of the parliamentary delegations of member and observer states to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, as well as of the delegations of Partners for Democracy (Morocco and the Palestinian Legislative Council). They meet during the part-sessions of the Parliamentary Assembly in Strasbourg to discuss with activists, practitioners and experts on the different aspects of the Convention and all forms of violence. Network members also act at national level, organising various events and raising awareness on the need to combat violence against women. One of our most active members is in this room today. I would like to thank Ms Ismeta Dervoz for organising this event and for her outstanding work on the promotion of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence in Bosnia and Herzegovina. I would also like to thank the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) for their support. This event is the first of a series of events organised by Network members in Rome, Brussels and in Lisbon. An upcoming wave of ratifications

One and a half years after the adoption of the Istanbul Convention, only one country, Turkey, has completed the ratification process. On 8 November 2012, the parliament of Albania has ratified the Convention. The ratification instrument will be deposited soon. We are still far from the 10 ratifications needed for the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention.
However, I came to Sarajevo bringing some good news – more signatures and ratifications have been announced, we are hoping for a ratification by Portugal by the end of the year, the Netherlands signed last week. France also announced an upcoming ratification. I am sincerely hopeful that 2013 will be the year of the entry into force of the Convention. It is our responsibility to ensure that this Convention materialises from words to law, and from law to action. The race for ratification has started. I would like to leave Sarajevo with a message that Bosnia and Herzegovina will race with Portugal to be the third country to ratify by the end of the year. A ratification to say out loud that violence against women cannot be justified. The Istanbul Convention must enter into force in order to save thousands of lives. One of its most outstanding provisions clearly states that there can be no justification for violence against women. Culture, history, religion, so-called honour or an economic or social status cannot justify any form of violence. There can be no justification since violence is an attack on the dignity of a human being. The International Day for the elimination of violence against women draws attention to this issue. The Istanbul Convention highlights the responsibility of States to tackle this plight. Violence against women can be prevented and combated

Pressure must be exerted so as to ask for ratification. Parliamentarians have a crucial role to play, asking questions, raising public attention and introducing combating violence against women in debates and on the political agenda. Violence against women can be prevented and combated, if we give ourselves the means to do it.

Tools for the promotion of the Istanbul Convention

With the Parliamentary Network « Women Free from Violence », we aim to provide parliamentarians with the tools to promote the Istanbul Convention in their respective countries and help them to launch initiatives.
You have one of the most recent tools in your hands today: the Handbook for parliamentarians, which will be presented to you in more detail a bit later on during this event.