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Portugal, Serbia and Turkey have already deposited the ratification instruments; Andorra, France and Spain are

currently examining ratification.

6. In the light of this positive momentum, the Assembly believes that no effort should be spared to achieve

the 10 ratifications that are necessary for the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention by the end of 2013. In

this context, it recalls the crucial role played by parliamentarians, especially through the Parliamentary Network

“Women Free from Violence”, in promoting the signature of the Istanbul Convention and ensuring a rapid and

efficient ratification process.

7. The Assembly therefore calls on Council of Europe member States to:

7.1. sign and/or ratify the Istanbul Convention without any further delay, if they have not yet done so;

7.2. refrain from making declarations and reservations to the Istanbul Convention or, in any case, not to

renew them;

7.3. adhere to the COMMIT initiative to end violence against women and implement their commitments

within the promised deadlines.

8. In so far as its work is concerned, the Assembly should:

8.1. continue to promote the signature and ratification of the Istanbul Convention through activities targeting

primarily parliamentarians;

8.2. step up activities aimed at raising awareness about violence against women among the general public,

also in co-operation with the media sector;

8.3. organise activities to enhance the capacity of national parliaments to monitor the implementation of the

Istanbul Convention at national level, once it enters into force;

8.4. expand the outreach capacity of the Parliamentary Network “Women Free from Violence” by creating a

status of “Network friend”, which the Parliamentary Network will be able to award to members of the European

Parliament and other members of parliament;

8.5. encourage its members to set up, in their national parliaments, informal groups or caucuses to end

violence against women.

B. Draft recommendation

1. Recalling its Resolution … (2013) on violence against women in Europe, the Parliamentary Assembly

reiterates that violence against women is a major human rights violation and an offence to human dignity which

does not spare any Council of Europe member State.

2. The positive response given by the majority of Council of Europe member States to the United Nations

initiative COMMIT to end violence against women, and their active involvement in the 57th session of the

Commission on the Status of Women, are signs of their political resolve to tackle this scourge.

3. The Council of Europe should strive to assist its member States in this endeavour, with special emphasis

on data collection, reinforcement of the legal and policy framework and co-operation.

4. The Council of Europe has set itself up as a pioneer in standard setting in this area through its

Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CETS No. 210,

“Istanbul Convention”). The Assembly looks forward to the prompt entry into force of this convention, which will

have a tangible impact on the lives of millions of people.

5. The Assembly welcomes the role for national parliaments and the Assembly itself in monitoring the

implementation of the convention, as set out in its Article 70, as an increased safeguard for the independence

of the process.

6. In the light of the above, the Assembly recommends that the Committee of Ministers:

6.1. explore the feasibility for the Council of Europe to play a role in the area of data collection by:

6.1.1. drawing up common guidelines on data collection, to be recommended to all member States, in order

to facilitate harmonisation and comparability;