We’ve waited long enough: it’s time to ratify the Istanbul Convention

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We’ve waited long enough: it’s time for the Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention on violence against women

8 June 2024 marks nine years since the UK signed the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, the gold standard framework for tackling violence against women.

Despite repeated promises to ratify the Istanbul Convention from successive governments, the UK has so far failed to do so.

That’s why IC Change, along with 32 organisations in the women’s sector and beyond, are calling on the Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention by 8 June 2022, that date marking a decade since the UK signed the Convention.

Chief Executives and Directors from across the women’s sector and beyond have written to the Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Minister for Safeguarding, Victoria Atkins, and the Minister for Women and Equalities, Liz Truss, calling for ratification as a matter of urgency.

We have waited long enough

Whilst the UK claims to be a world leader in tackling violence against women, it is lagging behind 33 other countries that have already ratified the Convention. This comes amid public outcry about the soaring rates of violence against women in the UK and strong cross-party support for ratification in both the House of Commons and the House of Lords.

Much progress has been made since we signed the Convention 2012, especially to guarantee that the UK is more compliant, including key reforms through the current Domestic Abuse Act 2021. We welcome this progress, yet are profoundly disappointed that the Government has failed to secure equal protection and support for migrant women through the Domestic Abuse Act. And nine years on, now that gaps in domestic legislation have been addressed, we remain anxious to see ratification at last.

The UK government is insistent on compliance before ratification. There is however no requirement in the Convention for a country to be fully compliant before ratification. Many other countries have ratified with the intention of using the Convention as a roadmap to make life safer for women. Until our government does the same, women and girls will not fully benefit from the critical protections and support the Convention offers.

The longer we wait for the Government to deliver on its promise, the more lives are at risk and tragically lost. As we rebuild post-COVID, the comprehensive measures offered by the Convention are more important than ever. This Government must ratify before we reach the 10-year milestone of signing the Convention.

Add your voice

Please help amplify the public call for ratification by tweeting your support on 8 June. Here are two template Tweets you can use/adapt:

  • Today marks 9 years since UK signed the #IstanbulConvention on #violenceagainstwomen. I join @ICChangeUK in urging the UK Govt to ratify #IstanbulConvention on #VAWG without delay to secure a safe future for women and girls in the UK! Add your voice: http://change.org/ICchangeuk #IstanbulConventionSavesLives
  • Today marks 9 years since UK signed the #IstanbulConvention on #violenceagainstwomen. Orgs across the women’s sector are urging the UK to ratify the Convention without delay to secure a safe future for women and girls in the UK! Add your voice: http://change.org/ICchangeuk #IstanbulConventionSavesLives