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Resolution 1963 (2013) Final version
Violence against women in Europe
1. Violence against women affects
one in four women in Europe. It is a widespread human rights violation as
well as a major health problem. Regrettably, it is so embedded in
society that most people fail to understand its extent, gravity
and nature.
2. In March 2013, the 57th session of the United Nations Commission
on the Status of Women (CSW57), entirely devoted to violence against
women and girls, represented a turning point in the fight against
this scourge: it gave visibility to the issue, resulting in the
adoption of strong conclusions, and encouraged States all over the
world to take stronger measures, also in the context of the “Say
No - Unite to end violence against women and girls” initiative to
end violence against women, launched by the Secretary-General of
the United Nations.
3. Thanks to the efforts of the Council of Europe and France,
the CSW57 was also an opportunity to make the Council of Europe
Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and
Domestic Violence (CETS No. 210, “Istanbul Convention”) better known
at global level. This convention has been rightly referred to as
a “gold standard” because it is the most comprehensive international
instrument specifically dealing with violence against women.
4. The Parliamentary Assembly welcomes the positive response
given by 25 Council of Europe member States to the “Say No - Unite
to end violence against women and girls” initiative. It acknowledges
that most member States are strengthening their legal and policy
framework to tackle violence against women and hopes that, despite
budgetary constraints due to the economic crisis, they will continue
to consider this matter as a priority by allocating adequate resources
to it.
5. The Assembly also welcomes the increasing support for the
Istanbul Convention, which to date has been signed by 32 member
States. Among them, Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy,
Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia and Turkey have already deposited the
ratification instruments; Andorra, France and Spain are currently
examining ratification.
6. In the light of this positive momentum, the Assembly believes
that no effort should be spared to achieve the 10 ratifications
that are necessary for the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention
by the end of 2013. In this context, it recalls the crucial role
played by parliamentarians, especially through the Parliamentary
Network “Women Free from Violence”, in promoting the signature of
the Istanbul Convention and ensuring a rapid and efficient ratification
process.
7. The Assembly therefore calls on Council of Europe member States
to:
7.1. sign and/or ratify the
Istanbul Convention without any further delay, if they have not
yet done so;
7.2. refrain from making declarations and reservations to the
Istanbul Convention or, in any case, not to renew them;
7.3. adhere to the “Say No - Unite to end violence against
women and girls” initiative and implement their commitments within
the promised deadlines.
8. In so far as its work is concerned, the Assembly should:
8.1. continue to promote the signature
and ratification of the Istanbul Convention through activities targeting
primarily parliamentarians;
8.2. step up activities aimed at raising awareness about violence
against women among the general public, also in co-operation with
the media sector;
8.3. organise activities to enhance the capacity of national
parliaments to monitor the implementation of the Istanbul Convention
at national level, once it enters into force;
8.4. expand the outreach capacity of the Parliamentary Network
Women Free from Violence by creating a status of “Network friend”,
which the parliamentary network will be able to award to members of
the European Parliament and other members of parliament;
8.5. encourage its members to set up, in their national parliaments,
informal groups or caucuses to end violence against women.