Council Decision (EU) 2023/1076 of 1 June 2023 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement

What it is

The European Parliament adopted by 464 votes to 81, with 45 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the draft Council decision on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement. The European Parliament gave its consent to the conclusion of the Convention. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women (‘Istanbul Convention’), which came into force in 2014, is the first legally binding international instrument on preventing and combating violence against women and girls at international level. It is the first international text that is legally defining violence against women and establishes a comprehensive framework of legal and policy measures for preventing such violence, supporting victims and punishing perpetrators. The Convention recognises violence against women as a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women. It covers various forms of gender-based violence against women, which refers to violence directed against women because they are women or violence affecting them disproportionately. PURPOSE: to conclude, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement. LEGISLATIVE ACT: Council Decision (EU) 2023/1076 on the conclusion, on behalf of the European Union, of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters, asylum and non-refoulement. CONTENT: under this Decision, the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is hereby approved on behalf of the Union with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters and to asylum and non-refoulement, insofar as they fall within the exclusive competence of the Union . The Union’s accession to the Convention shall be without prejudice to the Member States’ competence as regards the ratification of the Convention on matters falling within their national competences. The Convention was signed on 13 June 2017 on behalf of the Union with regard to matters related to judicial cooperation in criminal matters and with regard to asylum and non-refoulement, subject to its conclusion at a later date. The Convention creates a comprehensive and multifaceted legal framework to protect women against all forms of violence. It seeks to prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and girls and domestic violence. It covers a broad range of measures, from data collection and awareness-raising to legal measures on criminalising different forms of violence against women. It includes measures for the protection of victims and the provision of support services, and addresses the gender based violence dimension in matters of asylum and…

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