1. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention)
AN OVERVIEW

2. WHY A CONVENTION…
… on violence against women and domestic violence?

4. European challenges
Male-oriented or gender-neutral laws not taking into account the realities of women
Different levels of protection and support
Insufficient funding of services
Lack of multi-agency co-operation
Protection and support services not meeting the needs of victims
Negative and discriminatory attitudes towards women
victims from the police, judiciary or social services.

5. Who does the Convention cover?
The Convention covers women and girls, from any background, regardless of their age, race, religion, social origin, association with a national minority, migrant status or sexual orientation, etc.
The Convention recognises that there are groups of women and girls that are often at greater risk of experiencing violence, and states need to ensure that their specific needs are taken into account.
The Convention recognises that domestic violence affects women disproportionately.

6. Current progress Ratifications: 22
Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, Finland, France, Italy, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey
Signatories: 22
Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Moldova, Norway, Slovakia, Switzerland, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom

7. Holistic approach to combating violence against women
INTEGRATED
POLICIES
PREVENTION
Istanbul Convention
PROTECTION
PROSECUTION

8. Integrated policies
obligation to adopt and implement comprehensive and co-ordinated policies to offer a holistic response to violence against women
obligation to involve all relevant actors: government agencies, judicial authorities, NGOs and civil society, national human rights institutions, etc.

9. prevention Regularly run awareness-raising campaigns
Tackle attitudes, prejudices, gender roles and stereotypes through teaching material
Actively engage men and boys
Work closely with NGOs, civil society organisations, the private sector and the media
➨ Address a culture where acts of violence against women are condoned or justified

10. Protection and support services
set up shelters in sufficient numbers and in wide geographical distribution
ensure that general support services can support or refer victims of all forms of violence against women
introduce free-of-charge 24/7 telephone helplines that ensure confidentiality
ensure access to clear information in several languages
set up rape crisis centres or sexual assault referral centres

11. VICTIMS’ SAFETY COMES FIRST
Obligation to introduce emergency barring orders
Obligation to introduce restraining and protection orders
Obligation to take into consideration any known incidents of violence against women (in particular domestic violence) when deciding over custody or visitation rights

12. Prosecution (1) Criminalises the following forms of VAW:
physical, sexual and psychological violence
Sexual assault and rape
Stalking
Forced marriage
Female genital mutilation
Forced abortion and forced sterilisation
Criminalises or otherwise sanctions sexual harassment
Tackles crimes in the name of so-called “honour”
Ex parte and ex officio proceedings

13. Prosecution (2) Empowering victims through judicial proceedings
Protecting their image and privacy
Allowing counselors to accompany victims
Separate waiting rooms
Allow victims to testify without being present
Free legal aid
Prohibit mandatory conciliation and mediation

14. Professionalism and awareness
Victim-centred approach: rights and needs of the victims at the heart of all interventions
Gender-based understanding of violence
Risk assessment and management to keep the victim safe
Avoid secondary victimisation
Time is important: Immediate response, prevention and protection

15. Impact of the istanbul convention
The effects of the Istanbul Convention on national policy and legislation can already be seen:
Trend towards criminalising more forms of violence against women (stalking, FGM, forced marriage)
More countries setting up co-ordinating bodies
Large scale training initiatives

16. First evaluation Procedure
GREVIO’s baseline questionnaire
State report + NGO and other information
Examination by GREVIO
with state representatives
Country visit
GREVIO’s report and findings
Transmission to state party
Transmission to Committee of the Parties
Transmission to national parliament
Adoption of recommendations by Committee of the Parties?

17. Special inquiry procedure
Serious, massive or persistent pattern of violence
Special state report
Inquiry by one or more members of GREVIO
Country visit?
Transmission of the findings
Committee of the Parties and Committee of Ministers
Examination of the findings by GREVIO

18. First evaluation procedure
initiated in relation to Austria Monaco State reports received on 1 September 2016 Next state parties to be monitored: Albania Denmark State reports to be received in January 2017

19. NGOS AND CIVIL SOCIETY: GREVIO’S SOURCES OF INFORMATION
What does the Convention say? Article 68 (5): GREVIO may receive information on the implementation of the Convention from non-governmental organisations and civil society What do GREVIO’s Rules of Procedure say? Rule 35 (1): GREVIO may invite non-governmental organisations and other members of civil society active in the areas of concern to GREVIO, in particular women’s organisations, national coalitions of organisations and national branches of international non-governmental organisations, to provide it with information in relation to […] a questionnaire […].

20. HOW BEST TO BE HEARD BY GREVIO?
Drawing-up of a shadow report following the examination of GREVIO’s baseline questionnaire (made public in March 2016)
Provision of additional information following the examination of State reports (published, as a rule, following reception)
co-ordination at European and national level
sharing resources, experiences and expertise
N.B. check the web site for reporting deadlines but be assured that we are happy to receive information at any time during the monitoring procedure

21. HOW BEST TO BE HEARD BY GREVIO? (2)
Country visits
GREVIO delegation will seek to meet NGOs/civil society representatives on the ground during country evaluation visits.

22. HOW BEST TO BE HEARD BY GREVIO? (3)
Be the first to warn GREVIO in case of serious violations of the Convention
GREVIO may decide to evaluate the situation in a State Party as a matter of priority;
GREVIO may request a State Party to provide it with a special report and may initiate an inquiry procedure.

23. For further information and contacts:
THANK YOU!
For further information and contacts: