On April 17, Finland became the 17th country to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention). The Istanbul Convention requires ratifying states to take concrete steps to eliminate all forms of violence against women, including domestic and sexual violence, forced and child marriage and female genital mutilation. The Istanbul Convention entered into force on August 1, 2014.
An updated list of signatures and ratifications is available on the Council of Europe's website.
Compiled from: Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, Council of Europe, Headlines (April 17, 2015).