The United Nations defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual, or mental harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life."

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.&nbsp;

MEPs have voted during May 2023 plenary to approve the European Union’s accession to the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, concluding Parliament’s role in the process. Six years after the EU signed the Istanbul Convention - it has still not been ratified because of the refusal of a few member states, despite&nbsp;Parliament’s multiple calls to this end.

However, the EU&nbsp;Court of Justice’s opinion of 6 October 2021&nbsp;confirmed that the European Union can ratify the Istanbul Convention without having the agreement of all member states. The Court found that the appropriate scope for the EU’s accession is asylum, judicial cooperation in criminal matters, and obligations of the EU institutions and public administration.

The EU’s accession to the Istanbul Convention does not exempt member states from ratifying it themselves, MEPs have repeatedly said, urging the remaining six countries - Bulgaria, Czechia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia - to ratify the Convention without delay, so that it can protect women to the full extent of the Convention’s intended scope

Violence against women

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The right to health, including sexual and reproductive health, is protected internationally.&nbsp;Access to sexual and reproductive healthcare goods and services is a fundamental component of sexual and reproductive rights.

Under international human rights law and standards, European Union Member States should ensure access to safe and quality sexual and reproductive healthcare.

A range of United Nations (UN) treaties ban discrimination in general terms, effectively outlawing discrimination in sexual and reproductive health and rights. These rights include the right to health and the right to family planning, equal access to service, freedom from violence and the right to life. Specific international treaty protections exist to combat discrimination on the grounds of sex, race, disability but not sexual orientation or gender identity.

At European level, the Council of Europe protects sexual and reproductive health and rights through the European Convention on Human Rights and through the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention).

Sexual and reproductive health and rights

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, also known as the Istanbul Convention, is the first legally binding international instrument on this issue. It establishes a comprehensive framework of measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators.

The European Parliament first sounded the alarm about the problem of violence against women in a resolution of 11 June 1986. Since then, Parliament has played a particularly important role in the field, including through the work of its Committee on Women's Rights and Gender Equality (FEMM). As of October 2020, it has been signed by all EU Member States, and ratified by 21.

Violence against women (2019-2020)

European Green Party (EGP) nominated Ska Keller and Bas Eickhout as their two lead candidates for the European elections at its 23-25 November congress in Berlin. Ska Keller is the candidate taking part in the May 15 Eurovision debate.

Ska KELLER (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, Germany) studied Islamic Studies, Turkology and Jewish Studies at the Free University Berlin and the Sabanci Üniversitesi Istanbul. Elected to the European Parliament for the first time in 2009, she ran as the EGP lead candidate in the 2014 European elections campaign. Keller is co-chair of the Greens group in Parliament.

#EUelections2019 - Ska KELLER, lead candidate for the EGP

FEMM Committee - Istanbul Convention - presentation by GREVIO (Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence)

Press conference by Arba KOKALARI and Łukasz KOHUT, rapporteurs on the EU ratification of Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women

Opening of the sitting

Negotiations ahead of Parliament's first reading (Rule 71) (action taken): see Minutes

Resumption of the sitting

Address by Zuzana Čaputová, President of the Slovak Republic

Voting time

Approval of the minutes of the previous sitting

Whitewashing of the anti-European extreme right in the EU (topical debate)

Presentation of the Court of Auditors' annual report 2021 (debate)

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package (debate)

Sakharov Prize 2022 (announcement of the winner)

EU-Western Balkans relations in light of the new enlargement package (continuation of debate)

Fighting sexualised violence - The importance of the Istanbul Convention and a comprehensive proposal for a directive against gender-based violence (debate)

Political situation in Tunisia (debate)

Lukashenka regime's active role in the war against Ukraine (debate)

Outcome of the first meeting of the European Political Community (debate)

Global food security as follow-up to the G20 Agriculture Ministers meeting (debate)

Explanations of vote

Agenda of the next sitting

Approval of the minutes of the sitting

Closure of the sitting

Plenary session

Council positions at first reading (Rule 63)

The International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and the State of play on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention (debate)

First voting session (continuation)

Situation in Somalia

Human rights violations by private military and security companies, particularly the Wagner Group

The human rights situation in Cameroon

Announcement of voting results: see Minutes

Second voting session

Major interpellations (debate)

International ports’ congestions and increased transport costs affecting the EU (debate)

Approval of the minutes of the part-session and forwarding of texts adopted: see Minutes: see Minutes

Closure of the sitting 

Adjournment of the session 

Turkey&#39;s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention (debate)

Composition of committees and delegations : see Minutes

European strategy for data - Commission evaluation report on the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation two years after its application (debate)

European strategy for data - Commission evaluation report on the implementation of the General Data Protection Regulation two years after its application (continuation of debate)

2019-2020 Reports on Albania – 2019-2020 Reports on Kosovo – 2019-2020 Reports on North Macedonia – 2019-2020 Reports on Serbia (debate)

Assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia and the rule of law in Malta (debate)

Delegated acts (Rule 111(6)) (action taken): see Minutes

Control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use (debate)

Control of exports, brokering, technical assistance, transit and transfer of dual-use (continuation of debate)

Announcement of voting results

Dates of forthcoming sittings : see Minutes

Negotiations ahead of Parliament’s first reading (Rule 71) (action taken): see Minutes

Statement by the President 

Preparation of the European Council meeting of 10-11 December 2020 (debate)

Istanbul Convention and violence against women

Hungarian interference in the media in Slovenia and North Macedonia

The new LGBTIQ Equality Strategy (debate)

The new LGBTIQ Equality Strategy (continuation of debate)

Agenda of the next sitting : see Minutes

Plenary Session

Votes: EU accession to the Istanbul Convention

Press conference on the EU ratification of Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women

EP Plenary session - Joint debate - EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on violence against women

FEMM LIBE joint meeting - Votes on the two recommandations on the EU accession to the Istanbul Convention

EP Plenary session - Fighting sexualised violence - The importance of the Istanbul Convention and a comprehensive proposal for a directive against gender-based violence

EP Plenary Session - The International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women and the State of play on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention

EP Plenary session - Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention

EP Plenary session - Istanbul Convention and violence against women

45 First anniversary Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women.

Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE) and Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL), give a press conference in the European Parliament, on the EU ratification of Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women. The Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence is a major human rights treaty establishing comprehensive legal standards to ensure women’s right to be free from violence. Resulting from the Council of Europe’s continuous efforts since the 1990’s to prevent violence against women and domestic violence, this European legal instrument was negotiated by its 47 member states and adopted on 7 April 2011 by its Committee of Ministers. It is known as the Istanbul Convention after the city in which it opened for signature on 11 May 2011. The transcript is the result of an automated process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE) and Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL), on the EU ratification of Istanbul Convention on combating violence against women

MEPs vote on the following topics: 2022 Commission Report on Serbia - Vladimír BILČÍK (EPP,SK); 2022 Commission Report on Kosovo - Viola VON CRAMON-TAUBADEL (Greens/EFA, DE); Impact on the 2024 EU budget of increasing European Union Recovery Instrument borrowing costs - Johan VAN OVERTVELDT (ECR,BE); Own resources: a new start for EU finances, a new start for Europe - José Manuel FERNANDES (EPP, PT) and Valérie HAYER (Renew, FR); Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence – EU accession: institutions and public administration of the Union - Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL) and Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE); Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement - Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL) and Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE).

Voting session, including the EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on violence against women

Six years after the EU signed the Convention - the first legally binding international instrument for preventing and combating violence against women and girls - and despite Parliament’s multiple calls to this end, it has still not ratified it because of the refusal of a few member states. However, the EU Court of Justice’s opinion of 6 October 2021 confirmed that the European Union can ratify the Istanbul Convention even without having the agreement of all member states. MEPs debate the matter and vote. Extracts from the debate, the vote and statement by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteur.

EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on violence against women: extracts from the debate (09/05), extracts from the vote and statement by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteur

MEPs debate the ratification of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, in line with a 2021 Court of Justice ruling approving its implementation even without the agreement of all Member States. Closing statements by Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL) and Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality.

Joint debate - EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on violence against women: closing statements by Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL) and Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality

MEPs debate the ratification of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, in line with a 2021 Court of Justice ruling approving its implementation even without the agreement of all Member States. Second part of the debate.

Joint debate - EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on violence against women: MEPs debate (part 2)

MEPs debate the ratification of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, in line with a 2021 Court of Justice ruling approving its implementation even without the agreement of all Member States. First part of the debate.

Joint debate - EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on violence against women: MEPs debate (part 1)

MEPs debate the ratification of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women, in line with a 2021 Court of Justice ruling approving its implementation even without the agreement of all Member States. Opening statements by Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL) and Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES (S&D,PT), JURI Committee and by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality.

Joint debate - EU accession to the Istanbul Convention on violence against women: statements by Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL), Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs, Maria-Manuel LEITÃO-MARQUES (S&D, PT) and by Helena DALLI, EU Commissioner for Equality

The Istanbul Convention remains the international standard to eradicate gender-based violence, say MEPs in the draft resolution they are debating on. Closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL) and by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE), Rapporteurs.

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence: EU accession: closing statements by Helena DALLI, European Commissioner for Equality, Łukasz KOHUT (S&D, PL) and by Arba KOKALARI (EPP, SE)

MEPs debate on a draft resolution that would highlight how the The Istanbul Convention remains the international standard to eradicate gender-based violence. Second part of the debate.

Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence - EU accession: MEPs debate (part 2)

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