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1/10/2012
Photo on the subject of violence against women in East Timor. Black and white image of the faded silhouette and hand of a woman.
© UN Photo/Martine Perret

Council of Europe: Italy signs the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence

On behalf of Italy, the Minister of Labour and Social Policies, Elisa Fornero, has signed on Thursday 27th of September 2012 the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (CETS 2010).   

The Convention, the accession to which is open also for non-European countries, has been opened to signature on 11May 2012 but has not entered into force yet. According to the Convention, at least 10 countries (including minimum 8 member States of the Council of Europe) have to deposit the instrument of ratification. Until now, the Convention has been signed by 23 countries while only Turkey has finished the process of ratification.

The Convention is the first legally binding instrument in Europe to protect women against any form of violence, as well as prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against them and forms of domestic violence.

Moreover, in compliance with art.66 of the Convention, an international mechanism to control implementation of the Convention by the Parties will be created. Such control will be undertaken by the Group of experts on action against violence against women and domestic violence (GREVIO), composed of a minimum of 10 members and a maximum of 15 members, taking into account a gender and geographical balance, as well as multidisciplinary expertise. Its members will be elected for a term of four years, renewable once, and chosen from among national of the Parties of the Convention.