Joint Action: Act Against Rape! Use the Istanbul Convention!

Europe mobilises against rape and for the Istanbul Convention as a tool for change

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The Council of Europe and the European Women’s Lobby have joined forces in this project to promote the Istanbul Convention as a concrete tool for change to eradicate all forms of male violence against women and specifically rape.

Under the common slogan “Act against rape! Use the Istanbul Convention!”, a series of public events will take place in 33 countries all over Europe during the 16 days of activism against violence against women between 25 November and 10 December.

Rape continues to be one of the most devastating forms of gender-based violence, yet it is too often a taboo subject and thus remains shrouded in silence.

Wide mobilisation around Europe will urgently demand justice and support for victims of rape.

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (also known as the Istanbul convention) is a concrete tool for change to eradicate all forms of male violence against women, including rape.

Regarding sexual violence and rape, the Istanbul Convention obliges the States to adapt criminal legislation and include a definition of rape based on the lack of consent as element of crime and move away from the requirement of use of physical force.

An adequate implementation of the Istanbul Convention will serve to make a vast change towards more effective gender equality. However not all countries have signed the Convention, and from those who have signed only few have ratified.

Thorough Europe, the signature, ratification and implementation of the Istanbul Convention will be promoted and specific messages will be tailored to the context in the respective countries.

To help the organisations of the events at country level and ensure consistency, the EWL has prepared an Action Kit for the Coordinators of the actions, which is available here.

At EU level an will be held to close the project on the 10 of December in Strasbourg.

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This project benefits from the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
of Finland to the Council of Europe

Latest video

EWL event "Progress towards a Europe free from all forms of male violence" to mark the 10th aniversary of the Istanbul Convention, 12 May 2021.

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