Concept paper

Regional seminar in promotion of the Council of Europe Convention on

preventing and combating violence against women and domestic
violence (Istanbul Convention)

9-10 July 2012

Batumi
Georgia
Every day in Europe, women are stalked, harassed, raped, mutilated, forced by their family
to enter into a marriage, sterilised against their will or psychologically and physically
abused in the safety of their own homes. The examples of violence against women are
endless, its victims countless. Many women are too afraid or ashamed to seek help, often
paying for their silence with their lives. Those that do speak out are not always heard.
Domestic violence is another form of violence that is far too common and that affects not
only women, but men, children and the elderly as well.

Since the 1990ies, the Council of Europe has undertaken a range of activities to protect
women against violence. In April 2011, it adopted a Convention on preventing and
combating violence against women and domestic violence, which opened for signature on
11 May 2011. It is the first legally binding instrument in Europe on this topic and in terms of
scope, it is the most far-reaching international treaty in this field. It aims at zero tolerance
for violence against women and domestic violence and is a major step forward in making
Europe and beyond a safer place.

Preventing violence, protecting its victims and prosecuting the perpetrators are the
cornerstones of the Istanbul Convention. It also seeks to change the hearts and minds of
individuals by calling on all members of society, in particular men and boys, to change
attitudes. In essence, it is a renewed call for greater equality between women and men,
because violence against women is deeply rooted in the inequality between women and
men in society and is perpetuated by a culture of tolerance and denial.

The Istanbul Convention covers women and girls, from any background, regardless of their
age, race, religion, social origin, migrant status or sexual orientation, to name but a few.
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. States are also encouraged to apply the Convention to other
victims of domestic violence such as men, children and the elderly.

It requires Parties to the Convention to take a wide range of measures, for example:

Prohibit discrimination against women and abolish discriminatory laws and

practices;
Design comprehensive programmes and integrated policies involving all relevant
stakeholders;
Collect relevant statistical data on cases of violence against women;
Prevent violence through education, training and awareness-raising;
Protect and support victims through police interventions and adequate support
services;
Criminalise the different forms of violence against women and domestic violence;
 Prosecute offenders and ensure access to justice for victims;
Offer protection to migrant women and women seeking asylum who experience
gender-based violence.

An independent group of experts (GREVIO) will be set up to monitor implementation of the

Istanbul Convention by State parties. In a report-based procedure, it may make country-
specific or general recommendations to enhance implementation of the Convention.

So far, the Istanbul Convention has been signed by the following 20 member states of the
Council of Europe: Albania, Austria, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Iceland,
Luxembourg, Malta, Montenegro, Norway, Portugal, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Ukraine and United Kingdom. It
has been ratified by Turkey. Any Council of Europe member or observer state, any other
state or the European Union may sign and ratify or accede to the Convention. It will enter
into force following the ratification by 10 countries, including 8 Council of Europe member
states.

Objective and contents of the regional seminar

The objective of the regional seminar is three-fold:

1. to encourage member states to sign and ratify the Convention;

2. to raise awareness of its existence among members of parliament, NGOs, the
media and professionals working in the field;
3. to discuss the benefits and challenges of ratifying the Convention.

During the regional seminar, participants will consider the scope and content of the
Istanbul Convention. Particular emphasis will be placed on the link between achieving
gender equality and combating violence against women as well as recognising violence
against women as a human rights violation. In addition, the measures which state parties
to the Convention will be required to take in the area of prevention, protection and
prosecution will be presented in detail. Finally, member states participating in the seminar
will be invited to present their national perspective on the benefits and challenges in
ratifying the Convention.

The regional seminar is expected to generate interest in the Istanbul Convention among
key stakeholders involved in the ratification process and among media and NGO
representatives.

Targeted participants

The participants will be representatives of the governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan,

Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine. Representatives from the following non-member states
will also be invited to participate: Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.

Government delegation shall be composed of a representative from the Ministry of Justice,

the ministry responsible for gender equality and a national non-governmental organisation
active in the field of combating violence against women and domestic violence.