Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and Latvia recently signed the Council of Europe’s Convention on preventing and combatting violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). The Istanbul Convention, which entered into force on August 1, 2014, is the first treaty in Europe to create a comprehensive legal framework to protect women from acts of violence as well as prevent, prosecute and eliminate all forms of violence against women. Twenty-two countries have ratified the Istanbul Convention and are bound by its terms. Twenty countries have now signed the Convention, indicating their willingness to work towards ratification and honor the Convention’s terms
Please see the Council of Europe’s website for a current list of signatures and ratifications.
Compiled from: Latvia signs the Istanbul Convention, Council of Europe News (May 18, 2016); Czech Republic signs the Istanbul Convention, Council of Europe News (May 2, 2016); Bulgaria signs the Istanbul Convention, Council of Europe News (April 21, 2016).