“Building an international legal toolbox to finally say 'enough!' to violence against women and to that which takes place in the home and which also affects men, children and the elderly. This is the objective that the Council of Europe had set itself. An arduous undertaking, very arduous, since these manifestations of violence arise and are fueled by objective conditions of disparity between the two sexes still present in all or almost all European social contexts. But now, with the entry into force that we celebrated today (Friday 19 for the reader - ed) of the Istanbul Convention, we have taken a first significant step forward”.
Gabriella Battaini Dragoni – deputy secretary general of the Council of Europe, the Italian for two years "number 2" of the European organization (47 member states including all 28 countries that are part of the European Union) born after the second world war to protect and strengthen human rights, the rule of law and democracy in an area populated by 820 million inhabitants - she was a little tired but radiant at the end of the conference at which yesterday, in the hall of parliamentary groups of the Chamber, over a hundred representatives of public institutions and civil society organizations from all over Europe took part.
And in this interview with Firstonline, the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe explains the reasons for her satisfaction, also indicating the prospects which, in terms of combating violence against women and within the home, have opened up with the entry into force , last August 14, of the Istanbul Convention. "Which is the first legally binding European treaty - she clarifies - for the 22 States of the Council of Europe that have ratified it (including Italy) and the other XNUMX that have signed it without having completed the ratification procedure" .
FIRSTONLINE – Doctor, do you believe that the entry into force of the Istanbul Convention on the prevention and fight against violence against women and domestic violence will be sufficient to give an immediate and definitive blow to the sponge to the recurrence of episodes that may have different but objective origins common, women? Or does she not think that, precisely since the violence, as you say, derives directly from a persistent disparity, in economic and educational terms, widespread between men and women to their full detriment, the effects of the Convention will manifest themselves in a a very long time?
DRAGON BATTERS – It is necessary to distinguish. Of course, eradicating behaviors that are rooted in different traditions and cultures overnight is not an easy or quick operation. On the other hand, there are already turning points that were unimaginable until recently. Right here in Italy. I am thinking of the testimony that Lucia Annibali came to give here today, the lawyer whose face was scarred by the acid thrown at her by two desperate men hired by a boyfriend whom she had not tolerated being left behind. The testimony, which struck me emotionally to the point of making me cry, of a woman who was capable of transforming pain into great fortitude and an equally great will to live.
FIRSTONLINE – And what is the relationship between the very serious episode of violence of which Lucia Annibali fell victim and the Istanbul Convention?
DRAGON BATTERS – The relationship lies in the fact that the instigator of the scar was sentenced to twenty years in prison for attempted murder. An indictment which had paved the way for the application of the law that introduced the crime of stalking. Law which, an exceptional case in Italy, was passed by Parliament with a unanimous vote, thanks also to the passionate commitment of the Speaker of the Chamber Laura Boldrini (who took an active part in the Conference yesterday – ed.) shortly after the ratification of the Istanbul Convention.
FIRSTONLINE – Can we say then that, with the contribution of the Speaker of the Chamber and with yours, Italy has had a leading role in defining the Convention?
DRAGON BATTERS – We're both committed, sure. But I prefer to refer to the 'Italian triangle', completed by the presence of Federica Mogherini. That you, before being appointed Foreign Minister, as a member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, spent a great deal of effort in defining the text of the Convention.
FIRSTONLINE – Specifically, what are the weapons that the Convention makes available to those who are committed to eradicating violence against women and domestic violence?
DRAGON BATTERS – The first crucial step is, for each Member State that has signed the Istanbul Convention, the ratification procedure. Which implies the prior acceptance, also through modifications of the pre-existing legislation, of the detailed and stringent rules contained in that Treaty. Furthermore, the Convention introduces a complex monitoring mechanism, entrusted to a group of independent experts (minimum 10, maximum 15) with a mandate of four years, possibly renewable only once, in charge of verifying the implementation of the provisions contained in the Convention. The text of which, I like to underline, has been defined by the UN as a 'gold standard', ie the highest level of legislative quality.
FIRSTONLINE – Doctor, besides Italy, which are the major European states that have ratified the Convention?
DRAGON BATTLES – France, Spain, Turkey, Austria, Denmark, Portugal, Sweden. Among the 22 Member States that have signed, but not ratified so far, are Belgium, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Luxembourg, Norway, Holland, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland , Ukraine and Hungary. Among the member countries of the Council of Europe that have not signed the Convention we find Russia, the Czech Republic, Bulgaria and Cyprus.
FIRSTONLINE – But does the Council also look beyond Europe?
DRAGON BATTLES – The Convention also intends to become an instrument for promoting efforts to defeat violence against women and domestic violence. And the Council of Europe turns its gaze towards the southern shores of the Mediterranean, the Middle East and the Eastern neighbourhood. Meanwhile, with this intention we have already scheduled a meeting with the Arab League. We have no shortage of commitment. But of course, to eradicate this type of violence, it is essential to fight for the effective achievement of equality between men and women. This objective is still far away in the European Union itself, where the average salary of a woman is 30% lower than that of a man, and reaches 40% if the comparison refers to the pension allowance. If this knot that leaves women in a condition of economic subjection is not resolved, who will ever be able to eradicate the violence against her?
