Mohinder Watson sharing 2 new Council of Europe reports on side events on VAWG and the Istanbul Convention, held during the UNECE Beijing + 25 Regional Review. Geneva, 29/30 October 2019
Nov 10, 2020
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Dear World Pulse Members,
Some of you asked me about the UNECE meeting. I would now like to share with you 2 new reports on violence against women and girls entitled:
‘The Istanbul Convention in practice: Holistic care for victims of sexual violence’ co-organised by the Council of Europe and the Permanent Representation of Belgium to the United Nations in Geneva and
‘Ending Violence against Women and Girls: Prevalence, Proposals and Partnerships’, co-organised by the Council of Europe and the International Council of Women, and co-sponsored by the French Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, the Permanent Mission of Canada to the United Nations in Geneva, the UN Women Regional Office for Europe and Central Asia and NGO/CSW Geneva.
The reports contain important information related to VAWG, especially sexual voilence and how survivors can be helped. They are available on the Council of Europe Website at:
Belgium offers some best practices on helping survivors which can be adapted by different countries in the context of the local situation. There is also some very interesting information about the Istanbul Convention which can be adopted by all countries, not only those which are members of the Council of Europe.
Please try to find time to read them.
As 2019 draws to a close, I would like to wish you all a happy festive season and a great 2020 where we can stand in solidarity to demand women's and girls' rights to live their lives free from all forms of violence, especially sexual violence, no matter where in the world they happen to live.
Many thanks
Mohinder
Mohinder Watson, PhD MPH
Founder Action on Child Early and Forced Marriage,
Main UN Representative for the International Council of Women.