The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence- ISTANBUL CONVENTION is based on the understanding that violence against women is a form of gender-based violence that is committed against women because they are women. It is the obligation of the state to address it fully in all its forms and to take measures to prevent violence against women, protect its victims and prosecute the perpetrators. Failure to do so would make it the responsibility of the state. The convention leaves no doubt: there can be no real equality between women and men if women experience gender-based violence on a large-scale and state agencies and institutions turn a blind eye.

Because it is not only women and girls who suffer domestic violence, parties to the convention are encouraged to apply the protective framework it creates to men who are exposed to violence within the family or domestic unit. Nevertheless, it should not be overlooked that the majority of victims of domestic violence are women and that domestic violence against them is part of a wider pattern of discrimination and inequality. Italy has signed and also ratified the Istanbul Convention.

 

Slovakia has signed but not ratified this Istanbul Conention and Slovak students have signed the call for accelerating the ratification and implementation of Council of Europe Convention on preventing violence against women and domestic violence, and combating - the Istanbul Convention and sent their signatures tothe Slovak President,to the National Council and the Prime Minister of the Slovak Republic and ask them to ratifiy the Istanbul Convention.