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6. 2013: the year of the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention?

33. I have another reason to hope that 2013 will be a year of no return: I trust that the 10 ratifications which

are necessary for the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention will be achieved this year!

34. The Istanbul Convention has been opened for signature since May 2011. To enter into force, it requires

the deposit of 10 ratifications, eight of which should come from member States.

35. To date, although 32 countries have signed the convention, only five of them have deposited

instruments of ratification: Turkey – which did so in record time –, Albania, Portugal, Montenegro and Italy – the

latter also having concluded the process in record time, as it signed the convention only in September 2012.

The Parliaments of Bosnia and Herzegovina and Austria have ratified the convention. These countries should

therefore soon be depositing their instruments of ratification. In addition, the Governments of France and Spain

have given their green light to ratification, which will shortly be examined by parliament. On 5 June, the Serbian

Parliament started to examine the ratification of the Istanbul Convention. Ratification is also currently being

discussed in Andorra.

36. In my opinion, politically, it would be a strategic mistake if States that support the convention were to try

to bring their legislation fully into line with the provisions of the convention before ratification. This would give

the wrong signal to those that are hesitant and delay the entry into force of the convention, and this, in turn,

would lead to more women suffering and being killed.

37. It should also be recalled that, although not for all its provisions, the Istanbul Convention allows for the

possibility of reservations, which can be maintained for a provisional period of five years, renewable once. This

would give an additional lapse of time for States to align their national laws with the convention.

38. The Council of Europe should take advantage of the political momentum created by the CSW57 to push

for additional and prompt ratifications.

7. The Parliamentary Network “Women Free from Violence” and the role of national parliamentarians

39. In the last few years, the Parliamentary Network “Women Free from Violence” has proved to be very

dynamic and effective in pursuing its main objective, namely the promotion of the Istanbul Convention.

40. It has several tools at its disposal: a handbook on the Istanbul Convention, which is primarily addressed

to parliamentarians but can be used as a reference document by any other interlocutor who is interested in the

issue (available in 14 languages); a Newsletter, which is published before every part-session; a Facebook

page. Appendix 1 contains a list of the activities of the Network in order to give an idea of the extensive work

carried out by the Network and its members.

41. Upon being elected General rapporteur on violence against women and Political Co-ordinator of the

Network, I took the initiative of contacting more than 300 interlocutors all over Europe, with a view to presenting

the Assembly’s activities in this area and establishing synergies. Since then, I have participated in many

events, meetings and missions, in international fora and at national level. I consider this representation work as

an example of parliamentary diplomacy, aimed at raising awareness about violence against women and

speeding up the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention. I have also issued a number of statements on

violence against women and established contacts with human rights film festivals all over Europe, in view of

organising joint activities.

42. The Parliamentary Network has achieved tangible results. In 2012, Network members organised

parliamentary events on the Istanbul Convention in Rome, Sarajevo, Lisbon and Brussels, to mark the

International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women in Europe and promote the Istanbul

Convention. These conference and seminars received great media attention, were attended by national

parliamentarians and included high level speakers, such as speakers of parliament and competent ministers.

What happened next?

Portugal ratified the convention following a unanimous decision of parliament, just a few days after the

seminar;