Gavin Newlands MP: “One step closer to Istanbul Convention being ratified”
Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, has welcomed the announcement that the UK Government is going to use the upcoming Domestic Violence Bill to introduce the necessary measures to finally allow for the Istanbul Convention to be ratified.
Mr Newlands has long campaigned for the Istanbul Convention – the gold standard approach in helping to eliminate violence against women and girls – to be ratified. However, the UK Government have continually refused to ratify the Istanbul Convention as it wasn’t compliant with Article 44 which requires all countries to take necessary measures to protect women and girls from crimes committed overseas.
Earlier this year, the SNP passed landmark legislation which required the UK Government to annually update the House on their progress towards ratifying the Istanbul Convention.
Gavin Newlands, SNP MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, said:
“I am delighted that the final steps are being made to move the UK a step closer towards ratifying the Istanbul Convention and ensuring that we’re taking the gold standard approach in helping to eliminate violence against women and girls.
“Domestic violence not only affects the individual who are targets of violence, but it also has a life-long impact on the wider family, including on the children who may live in a house where violence is occurring. Therefore, it’s of paramount importance that we do everything that we can to eradicate the gender-based violence which kills two women every week.
“It’s been a long road to get us to this stage but hopefully upon the successful passage of this new Bill the UK will be in a position to finally ratify the Istanbul Convention.”
