31 DE MARÇO DE 2014

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– we have published a Handbook addressed to parliamentarians, to explain the Istanbul Convention in

simple terms and provide example of good practice drawn from the experience of Council of Europe member

States. This publication is available in 15 languages;

– we publish a regular Newsletter, which is distributed to a large number of contacts and available in

electronic format;

– we have set up a Facebook page, which is followed by institutional actors, NGOs and ordinary people;

– we coordinate and assist Network members with the organisation of seminars, conference and other

events on violence against women in their own national parliaments.

I can tell you that this particular activity has been instrumental to catalyse political support for the Istanbul

Convention, and that without the lobbying, pressure and networking of our parliamentarians nowadays we

would not have as many signatures and ratifications of our gold standard.

The Network members, including myself, act as ambassadors. Ambassadors of gender equality, women’s

rights. Ambassadors of the Istanbul Convention.

This work would not have been possible without the generosity of those Council of Europe member States

who have believed in the potential of parliamentary campaigning and have supported them through voluntary

contributions.

Monitoring

The Network is planning to diversify its activities even further once the Istanbul Convention enters into force.

As you know, the Istanbul Convention is the first instrument ever to explicitly foresee a role for parliamentarians

in the context of monitoring its implementation: at national level, parliaments are requested to participate in the

oversight of the measures taken by the State parties to implement the Convention; at European level, the

Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe will be invited to regularly take stock of the Convention.

The Network is therefore planning to organize country-specific seminars to strengthen the capacity of

national parliamentarians to play their role.

I would also like to recall that, in its recommendation 2030 (2014) on Violence against women in Europe, the

Assembly also asked the Committee of Ministers to ensure that it is represented in the Group of Experts on

Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) as an observer.

One Council of Europe

Of course, the presence of an Assembly representative in the independent monitoring mechanism of a

Convention would be an innovative measure. I believe, however, that it would acknowledge the role played by

the Assembly in this area and the way in which we have worked so far: violence against women is one of those

issues in which, INSTITUTIONALLY, the Assembly and the Committee of Ministers have worked TOGETHER,

side by side, avoiding duplications, coordinating and going in the same direction. This is a positive

achievement, a strength also vis-à-vis our external interlocutors, which should be recognised.

I can understand the argument that such a mechanism must be composed by experts.

But maybe you might consider the possibility that the Assembly could participate on the meetings of the

Committee of the Parties as an observer.

Conclusion: Ferite a morte

Dear President,

Dear Secretary General, Deputy Secretary General, Excellencies,

As I mentioned in my presentation earlier on, to make progress in tackling violence against women, it is

necessary to win the hearts and minds of people. We have to promote a change in society.