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PACE
committee on Equal Opportunities calls for a framework convention
Strasbourg, 24 June 2008
José Mendes Bota (Portugal, EPP/CD), Rapporteur for PACE Committee on
Equal Opportunities for Women and Men, said today, with the support of
Council of Europe Secretary General Terry Davis, that it was
overwhelmingly important for the Council of Europe to prepare a
framework convention covering the severest and most widespread forms of
violence against women in Europe.
The committee approved the introductory memorandum by the Portuguese
parliamentarian, which invites the Council of Europe to draft a legal
instrument to help ensure that women are protected against domestic
violence, the perpetrators are prosecuted and preventive measures are
taken to combat domestic violence, sexual assaults (including rape and
"marital rape"), harassment, forced marriages, "crimes of honour" and
female genital mutilation.
The rapporteur stresses in the memorandum that the involvement of
national parliaments in the campaign has helped to bring about
legislative changes in several member states and that numerous measures
to raise awareness have been taken in parliaments. He adds, however,
that the minimum legislative standards for combating domestic violence
have by no means been attained. The mobilisation must continue.
The final report taking stock of the parliamentary dimension of the
Council of Europe Campaign to Combat Violence against Women, including
Domestic Violence, and of the outlook for the future will be submitted
to PACE at its 2008 autumn part-session.
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