Council of Europe: Conference on the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention, Rome, 19 September 2014

On 19 September 2014, in Rome, an international conference will take place on the occasion of celebrating the entry into force (1 August 2014) of the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). The event, titled "Safe from fear, safe from violence", is organized by the Council of Europe in collaboration with the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Italian Chamber of Deputies.

The objectives of the Conference are:

• Celebrate the entry into force of this ground-breaking Convention;
• Highlight its holistic approach to combating violence against women;
• Encourage member States of the Council of Europe and other participating States to sign and ratify the document;

In order to highlight the importance and value of the Convention and to celebrate its entry into force, the Council of Europe has also produced a video titled "Safe from fear, safe from violence." 

The Convention, which is the first European treaty that targets specifically violence against women and domestic violence, was opened for signature in Istanbul (Turkey) on 11 May 2011. It aims to set up a comprehensive legal framework for the protection, prevention and elimination of violence against women and domestic violence. 

To date, the Convention has been signed by 36 countries, fourteen of which has ratified it: Albania, Andorra, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Denmark, France, Italy (10 September 2013), Malta, Montenegro, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden and Turkey.