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Handbook and visibility material

To explain the Convention in simple terms, the Network has produced a handbook, which thanks to the

contributions of various countries, has now been translated into 15 languages. This Handbook is not only for

parliamentarians but for all those who want to know more about the Istanbul Convention without necessarily

being a specialist in this area of law and policy.

The Network has also published visibility material of various kinds: newsletters, leaflets and posters. It has

a Facebook page, which I warmly invite you to consult and “like”. We want to reach out to experts but also to

the general public, to increase their awareness and create general support for the Convention.

The role of NGOs in the elaboration of the Convention

As I mentioned, the Parliamentary Assembly took part in the campaign conducted by the Council of Europe

from 2006 to 2008 to combat violence against women.

That was the first time that all three political dimensions of the Council were involved: governments,

parliaments and NGOs contributed to this campaign in their different ways.

It was an excellent opportunity for parliamentarians to work side by side with non-governmental

organizations.

Later, when negotiations to draft the Istanbul Convention took place, many NGOs - Amnesty International

with Lisa Gormley, Human Rights Watch, ILGA, WAVE with Hilary Fisher and Rosa Logar, EIGE, European

Women’s Lobby with Marie-Jose Jonczy, or the European Group of National Human Rights Institutions, only to

name a few -, participated as observers.

In addition to this, the Council of Europe INGO Conference participated in the process, with Karin

Nordmeyer. We can safely say that a large share of Europe’s organizations were represented by the

Conference at the ad hoc committee which drafted the Convention, and gave substantial contributions to the

final text.

Then, when the Assembly adopted its opinion on the draft Convention, and I was appointed as Political Co-

ordinator of the Network, I kept in touch with those NGOs. I asked for their feedback on the amendments I

meant to propose. I received their comments. I took many of them on board.

What the Convention says about the role of NGOs

NGOs can make an important contribution in preventing and combating all forms of violence.

European states should “recognize, encourage and support the work of NGOs”, as per article 9. This means

enabling them to carry out their work in the best possible ways, for example:

setting up co-operative structures between law enforcement agencies and shelters, see article 7;

advertising NGO helplines and services in government information material;

ensuring relevant public and political support;

The Convention also indicates that the States must “allocate appropriate financial and human resources for

the activities delegated to non-governmental organizations”, as stated on article 8.

And, on what concerns the monitoring proceedings, paragraph 5 of article 68 says that “GREVIO may

receive information on the implementation of the Convention from NGO’s and civil society, as well as from

national institutions for the protection of human rights”.

How cooperation between parliamentarians and NGOs could be useful to prevent and tackle VAW

In many member states, the overwhelming majority of services for victims of domestic violence, and also

services for victims of other various forms of violence against women, are run by non-governmental

organizations.