SDLP Foyle MP Mark Durkan has given his backing at Westminster this week to a campaign which aims to secure the ratification of The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence – known as the Istanbul Convention.
The Istanbul Convention (IC) requires the UK government to take measures to prevent violence against women, protect women experiencing violence, and prosecute perpetrators.
In Northern Ireland in 2014-15 there were 2,734 sexual offences recorded, including 737 offences of rape, and 13,426 domestic abuse crimes were reported (approximately 13% of the overall crime in the North).
Mr Durkan said: “It is vital as parliamentarians that we do everything in our power to end violence towards women and girls – not least in Derry and throughout the North.
“Figures show that we still have a long way to go, but we can do something to make our society a safer place. That is why I am supporting the IC Change campaign and the urgent call on government to ratify the Istanbul Convention.
“I would also urge as many people as possible to show their support by signing the IC Change petition at www.icchange.co.uk ”
Rebecca Bunce, co-director of the IC Change campaign, said: “This law is about women’s lives. It is easy to forget when talking about legal technicalities, but ratification is really about women being able to live free from violence and free from the fear of violence.
“With the promise of the Istanbul Convention, we have already seen progress from the UK government with legislation on forced marriage, psychological violence and female genital mutilation (FGM).
“We can’t stop now.
“With uncertain times ahead it is all the more vital that there is a clear legal framework to help end violence against women.
“We urge the UK government to finish what they started and ratify the Istanbul Convention.”
