Turkey first to ratify COE convention on domestic violence

Turkey ratified late yesterday a Council of Europe (COE) convention on preventing and combating violence against women, becoming the first signatory country approving the convention in its parliament.

Turkish Parliament adopted the convention with 246 votes, with one lawmaker abstaining from the vote.

On April 7, 2011, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted a landmark new convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. It was the first legally binding instrument to create a comprehensive legal framework to prevent violence and protect victims.

The convention defines and criminalizes various forms of violence against women, including forced marriage, female genital mutilation, stalking, physical and psychological violence and sexual violence.

It also foresees the establishment of an international group of independent experts to monitor the convention's implementation at national levels.

The Convention was opened for signature in Istanbul on 11 May 2011 and was signed by 13 countries.