On November 18, 2015, the Netherlands became the 19th 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.
The Istanbul treaty established a Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) to monitor implementation of the treaty by state parties.
An updated list of signatures and ratifications is available on the Council of Europe's website.
Compiled from: Council of Europe, Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, Newsroom (November 24, 2015).