Gavin questions the new Secretary of State for Women and Equalities on the Istanbul Convention
Gavin Newlands, MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has questioned the recently appointed Secretary of State for Women and Equalities, Justine Greening MP, in Parliament on the ratification of the Istanbul convention.
Gavin has campaigned on getting this Council of Europe Convention on preventing violence against women and girls ratified by the UK Government. This legislation would require the UK to take measures to prevent violence against women, protect women experiencing violence, and prosecute perpetrators.
Gavin said: “In welcoming the new Women and Equalities Secretary of State to her new role, I asked her to support my colleague Dr Eilidh Whiteford MP's Private Member's Bill which commits the Government to ratifying the Istanbul Convention on Violence against women and girls.
“While the Secretary of State didn't commit to supporting the bill, she did agree how important the Istanbul Convention was and promised to contact me to set out a new government position soon.”
“I am hopeful that this is a real step in the right direction towards getting this vitally important convention ratified and I look forward to hearing more about the government’s position on combatting domestic abuse.”
