Protecting women from violence more effectively through local and regional action

"Regrettably, not much progress has been made in eliminating violence against women since the adoption of the latest Congress texts on this matter, notably on combating domestic violence in 2009 and on fighting sexist violence against women in politics in 2020", underlined Congress Spokesperson on Gender Equality, Nazia Rehman (UK, SOC/G/PD) in her statement to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women 2024.

She called on authorities at all levels to keep this matter high up on their political agendas at a time when, world-wide, one woman was killed every 10 minutes. The 2024 motto of the International Day, held every year on 25 November, "#NoExcuse. UNiTE to End Violence against Women" should therefore be taken to heart by everyone, including public decision-makers. Local and regional authorities play a crucial role in this area, not only to ensure that women are protected from hostile attitudes and behaviours towards them when engaging in politics, but also by developing awareness-raising campaigns and providing reliable support services to all women victims of violence.

The Congress itself as a European political assembly, speaking on behalf of more than 130,000 local and regional governments, intends to initiate new activities in this area in 2025, on the basis of the Istanbul Convention standards and tapping into and reinforcing the findings of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) and the recommendations of the Committee of the Parties to the Istanbul Convention, which provide guidance to all levels of government, including on the role of local and regional authorities in the implementation of policies targeting violence against women.