Belgium (Brussels Morning Newspaper) The Istanbul Convention, also known as the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and combating violence against Women and domestic violence, is an international treaty signed in 2011.
Its aim is to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators. The treaty has been ratified by 34 countries, including most EU Member States, but the European Union has yet to ratify it as a bloc.
These weeks, the European Parliament took an important step toward the EU’s ratification of the Istanbul Convention. MEPs voted in favor of the report, which calls on the European Commission to propose the EU’s accession to the Convention.
Soraya Rodríguez Ramos, Renew Europe Coordinator in the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality and shadow rapporteur on the report, praised the decision, stating that “we are finally turning words into actions, getting a step closer to the EU’s ratification of the Convention.” She emphasized that the Convention will provide better protection for all victims of violence and lead to the prevention and prosecution of these crimes in an integrated manner in all EU Member States.
Yana Toom, Renew Europe shadow rapporteur in the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs, also welcomed the decision, stating that “the accession of the EU to the Istanbul Convention is long overdue.” She emphasized that the EU’s accession to the Convention will create an obligation to effectively create policies for the prevention of gender-based violence, the protection of victims, and the prosecution of perpetrators.
The Istanbul Convention is an important tool in the fight against violence against women and domestic violence. By ratifying the Convention, the EU will be able to provide a unified response to these crimes across all Member States. It will also ensure that victims receive the necessary support and protection and that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
In conclusion, the European Parliament’s decision to call on the European Commission to propose the EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention is a significant step forward in the fight against violence against women and domestic violence. The Convention provides a framework for the effective prevention, protection, and prosecution of these crimes, and the EU’s ratification will help ensure that these standards are upheld across all Member States.