Conference "Gender equality and the Istanbul Convention: a decade of action"
Conference organised by the Gender Equality Division and the Violence against Women Division of the Council of Europe, in partnership with the German Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth in the framework of the German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe
Berlin, 11 May 2021
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11 May 2021 marks the 10th anniversary of the opening for signature of the Istanbul Convention. The international recognition that the Istanbul Convention has obtained and the concrete impact that it has had on national legislation and practices, as well as - what is most important - on victims, are all causes for celebration.
The morning session of the conference reaffirmedd the political will of states parties to fully implement the Convention, and to generate genuine interest in the Convention among key stakeholders, media and NGO representatives in states who are not yet parties. The afternoon panel discussed the implementation of the Council of Europe Recommendation on preventing and combating sexism and the related Council of Europe campaign “Sexism: See it. Name it. Stop it!”, highlighting relevant initiatives of decision makers and civil society at the national and regional level.
Practical information
Joining forces around the 10th anniversary of the Istanbul Convention! Explore the dedicated website.
High-level opening: The Istanbul Convention today and its achievements
Astrid Frohloff, Conference moderator
Franziska Giffey, Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General of the Council of Europe
Rik Daems, President of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
Mariana Vieira da Silva, Minister of State of the Presidency, Portugal
Marceline Naudi, Council of Europe, GREVIO President
Marcella Pirrone, President, Women Against Violence Europe (WAVE)
The Istanbul Convention: the gamechanger for women and girls
Feride Acar, First President of GREVIO
Presentation of the four Ps (Pillars) of the Istanbul Convention in video format – Prevention, Protection, Prosecution, Co-ordinated Policies
The Istanbul Convention: Gold standard, useful tool or dangerous ideology?
Nils Muižnieks, Europe Director, Amnesty International - Moderator
Beka Dzamashvili, Deputy Minister of Justice, Georgia
Dubravka Šimonović, United Nations Special Rapporteur on violence against women, its causes and consequences and Co-Chair of the drafting committee of the Istanbul Convention (CAHVIO)
Nina Nordström, President of the Committee of the Parties to the Istanbul Convention
Neil Datta, European Parliamentary Forum
Combating gender stereotypes and sexism: tackling the roots of gender inequality and violence against women
Astrid Frohloff, Conference moderator
Introduction: Andreia Lourenço Marques, Chair of the Council of Europe’s Gender Equality Commission
Juliane Seifert, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, Germany
Emily Yiolitis, Minister of Justice and Public Order, Cyprus
Élisabeth Moreno, Minister Delegate for Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities, attached to the Prime Minister, France
Joanna Maycock, Secretary General, European Women’s Lobby
Alexandra Timmer, Associate Professor, Utrecht University School of Law, the Netherlands
Keynote speech
Elif Shafak, Writer, Academic, Public Speaker and Women's Rights Activist
Concluding remarks
Christine Chinkin, Conference Rapporteur
Bjørn Berge, Deputy Secretary General, Council of Europe
Michael Roth, Special Representative of the Federal Government for the German Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, Minister of State for Europe at the Federal Foreign Office
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