Gavin: UK Government must ratify the Istanbul Convention now
Gavin Newlands, the MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has today convened a roundtable discussion on violence against women and the Istanbul Convention with groups from across civil society in Westminster.
The SNP MP brought together representatives from groups and organisations who are working to end violence against women. Attendees discussed the best way to advance this campaign and raised their concerns about the UK Government’s hesitation to ratify the Istanbul Convention which it signed in June 2012 but has not yet ratified.
Speaking after the roundtable discussion, Gavin Newlands MP said:
“I am glad that we have been able to come together and discuss the next steps towards ending violence against women. One of the pressing concerns that all representatives expressed was about the UK Government’s hesitation to ratify the Istanbul Convention.
“The Istanbul Convention places an obligation on the government to prevent violence against women in all its forms, protect victims and prosecute the perpetrators. The UK Government signed the convention in June 2012 – so I cannot fathom why they are so hesitant to ratify it now.
"The UK Government’s failure to ratify the Istanbul Convention is not only unfortunate, it’s utterly unacceptable. Gender-based violence is a blight on our society and it claims the lives of two women every week. Ignorance simply will not suffice on this matter – the government must stop dragging its feet and ratify the convention now.”
