On the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the International Planned Parenthood Federation European Network (IPPF EN) strongly welcomes and supports the written Declaration 0037/2012, calling on the EU to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating  violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). Launched recently by five MEPs from the five main political groups in the European Parliament, the written declaration needs 377 signatures (half of the members of the EP) for it to enter into force.

IPPF EN joins the European Women’s Lobby and the END FGM European Campaign in their action to boost MEPs to sign the written declaration 0037/2012.

We encourage IPPF Member Associations to urge the MEPs from their respective countries to sign the declaration. We also invite all supporters to use the twitter hash tag #EndVAWEurope to bring further attention to this issue.

By signing and ratifying the Istanbul Convention, the EU who has a legal authority to ratify the Convention, would send a strong political message to step up efforts to end violence against women and overcome inequality!

The written declaration also encourages EU Member States to ratify the Council of Europe Convention. So far, 24 members States of the Council of Europe have signed the Convention, 16 of them being EU countries. Turkey is the only member State to have ratified the Istanbul Convention. The Convention will enter into force once 10 countries have ratified it - 8 of which must be Council of Europe member States!

Please visit the European Women’s Lobby website for  copy of the written declaration n°0037/2012 in your language and send it to your MEPs now!

The Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is the first legally-binding instrument in Europe on this topic. It offers a comprehensive approach to prevent violence, protect women and girls and ensure offenders are prosecuted. The added value of the Convention is the link between achieving gender equality and combating violence against women, as well as recognizing violence against women as a human rights violation.

More information about the Convention can be found here.

For further inquiries, contact IPPF EN Manager, Public Affairs, Irene Donadio, idonadio@ippfen.org