UN Women Executive Director Michelle Bachelet welcomes the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, Urges Member States to Move Towards Securing the Treaty’s Entry into Force

Istanbul—On the historic occasion of the formal opening for signature of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women Michelle Bachelet wholeheartedly commends this achievement of delivering to the women of Europe what is rightfully theirs: a key instrument for the fulfillment of their fundamental right to live free from violence in both the public and the private sphere.

UN Women welcomes the Convention's comprehensive and integrated approach, paying attention to services and support women require and in response to violence; while also dedicating attention to the importance of prevention.

On official mission to Turkey, the Executive Director, Ms. Bachelet also takes the opportunity to acknowledge the leadership of the Government of Turkey, whose representatives were instrumental in the process of adopting the Convention.

Ms. Bachelet said: “I know first-hand that in my region, the ‘sister' Convention of Belem do Para 1994, the only other regional treaty in the world dedicated to ending the global pandemic of violence against women, was path breaking, proving its value and impact for the betterment of the lives of women and their communities across Latin America. I am sure the new CoE Convention will be important in the lives of women of Europe. This is why I urge the signatories of the Convention to move towards early ratification, so that the treaty's entry into force can be secured. UN Women stands ready to support the Council of Europe and its Member States achieve this immediate objective.