Women’s Platform - Gender Based Violence and International Law
International law
Women and girls will only be safe, and feel safe, when violence against women and girls is no longer accepted and normalised in society. We need effective laws, as well as reliable and consistent enforcement of those laws to improve protection of women and girls, and make sure perpetrators are held to account. We also need laws and policies that support prevention of violence, and help tackle discrimination against women in society in general.
International law sets out agreed standards for what governments must do to ensure human rights are integrated into laws and policies, and is intended to act as a model for domestic legislation. The UN Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), often known as the international Bill of Rights for women, clearly sets out that governments must make sure women and girls are safe and pass laws that make all discrimination based on gender unlawful. CEDAW also requires governments to implement policies that support women and girls to access jobs, education, benefits and healthcare on the same grounds as men. This builds on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which makes being safe and secure a basic human right.
In Europe, the Istanbul Convention against violence against women and girls is a specific framework focused on protection, prevention and prosecution of violence. It specifies provisions in the European Convention on Human Rights, and requires governments to both pass laws and implement policies designed to end violence against women and girls, including:
· Adequate protection: refuges, phone helplines and other access to information, support for victims/survivors; safe custody and visitation; risk assessments, barring orders
· Prevention: education, training, prevention programmes, media standards
· Judicial remedies: criminalising all forms of violence against women and girls; appropriate sentencing; adequate training for professionals and support for complainants; timely investigations; civil remedies; support for victims of sexual violence
The UK is a State Party to both CEDAW and the Istanbul Convention, which means the UK must take action on all of these issues. The UK must also report back to the UN, which monitors CEDAW, and the Council of Europe, which monitors the Istanbul Convention. The Council of Europe is currently undertaking a baseline assessment of the UK, and Women’s Platform is coordinating the Northern Ireland women’s sector response, highlighting gaps and areas for improvement.
The UN and the Council of Europe use these examinations to give the UK recommendations on how to better protect women and girls and end discrimination and violence. Women and the women’s sector can also use these recommendations to urge authorities in Northern Ireland to improve laws, policies and services, and have done that for example to achieve legislation on stalking.
Women’s Platform works to build capacity of the women’s sector to use international law to support policy change in Northern Ireland. It is a tool and a standard everyone should be able to expect as a minimum. Ultimately, however, change is local, and it is time local decision makers both listened to women in Northern Ireland, and engage with international frameworks.
Footnote:
Women’s Platform would be delighted to collect any evidence that might be relevant to the Istanbul Convention. To have a chat or get more information, get in touch at info@womensplatform.org.
About the Author
Jonna is Director of Women’s Platform, responsible for developing the organisation and delivering the organisation’s strategic action plan. She coordinates the development of the Northern Ireland shadow report to CEDAW and provides the secretariat for the Northern Ireland Assembly All Party Group on UNSCR 1325, Women, Peace and Security. Jonna has over 20 years’ experience of advocating for rights and tackling inequalities at policy and grassroots level in the community and voluntary sector.
