After many years of us campaigning, the Government has announced that they will take the final steps to make the Istanbul Convention legally binding.
This is a big step towards improved support for survivors, more effective prosecution, and gender equality through the UK.
However, the news is bittersweet. We are deeply disappointed to see that the Government has decided to ‘opt out’ of a key part of the Convention that provides support and protections for migrant women.
This means migrant women in particular will be denied life-saving support and protection.
All women means all women
We can’t sit by and let this happen. The power of the Convention lies in its protection of all women and girls without discrimination. We will not accept caveats or exceptions. All women means all women.
We need your help to make sure the Government ratifies the Istanbul Convention fully - without reservations. We won’t settle for less.
8 June 2024 marks the ten year anniversary since the UK Government signed the Istanbul Convention.
Ask your MP to attend our Parliamentary Photocall on this key date calling on the Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention without reservations and provide support for all women.
Enough is enough. Will you join us?
You can make a big difference by taking small actions!
If you have 2 minutes…
Tweet your MP to attend the Photocall
Find your MP and their handle on Twitter via Tweet Your MP. Copy and paste the Tweet below, attaching our ‘MP invite’ supporting image [PNG 72KB].
- .@[YOUR MP’S TWITTER HANDLE] it’s 10 years since the UK signed the #IstanbulConvention on #ViolenceAgainstWomen. As my MP pls can you attend @ICChangeUK Parliamentary Photocall to call on the Gov to ratify w/out reservations? icchange.co.uk/8JunePhotocall #AllWomenMeansAllWomen
- .@[YOUR MP’S TWITTER HANDLE], as your constituent, can I count on you to call on the Gov to ratify the #IstanbulConvention on #ViolenceAgainstWomen w/out reservations by attending @ICChangeUK Parliamentary Photocall on 8 June? icchange.co.uk/8JunePhotocall #AllWomenMeansAllWomen
You can also write your own Tweet if you prefer. Make sure you include the hashtags #AllWomenMeansAllWomen, our Twitter handle @ICchangeUK, and our ‘MP invite’ supporting image [PNG 72KB].
Emailing or writing a letter to your MP can have a much bigger impact than a Tweet and only take 5-10 minutes.
If you have 5-10 minutes…
Email or write a letter to your MP inviting them to attend the Parliamentary Photocall
- Find your MP and their email or postal address via the Parliament website by typing in your postcode.
- Download our MP email/letter template [Docx, 124kb] to help you get started, but do add your own twist to personalise it. The more you can talk from the heart and personalise your message, the more impact your words will have.
- To stand out more, write a handwritten letter using the text or your own (if you are able to post it).
Send that email or letter to show your support for women and girls across the UK!
After emailing/writing to your MP
If you’ve written to your MP, you can help spread awareness on social media. Here is a sample Tweet and ‘Invite your MP’ supporting image you can use:
- I’ve just asked my MP to attend the @ICChangeUK Parliamentary Photocall to call on the Gov to ratify the #IstanbulConvention without reservations to protect ALL women from violence . Could you ask yours? icchange.co.uk/allwomen #AllWomenMeansAllWomen