INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY AND THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION

Motion Text

That this House celebrates International Women's Day which is marked on 8 March 2016; acknowledges that this day helps celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women the world over; recognises that women still face a significant amount of inequality, with one in four women being subject to violence during their lifetimes; notes that on 8 June 2012 the Government signed the Istanbul Convention on violence against women and domestic violence, and once ratified this will ensure that a series of policies are introduced to help tackle sexual and domestic violence against women; appreciates the progress that has been made in implementing legislation on female genital mutilation, psychological violence and forced marriage; welcomes that the Government is to publish a new violence against women and girls strategy; and further notes that the Government is yet to ratify this Convention and urges it to do so as a matter of urgency.