Criminal law aspects of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence

Abstract

This draft Convention applies to all forms of violence against women, including domestic violence which affects women disproportionately. It applies in times of peace and in situations of armed conflict. The purposes of the Convention are to: protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence; contribute to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and promote substantive equality between women and men, including by empowering women; design a comprehensive framework, policies and measures for the protection of and assistance to all victims of violence against women and domestic violence; promote international co-operation with a view to eliminating violence against women and domestic violence; provide support and assistance to organisations and law-enforcement agencies to effectively co-operate in order to adopt an integrated approach to eliminating violence against women and domestic violence.