by Anna Costanza Baldry, PhD
The Council of Europe Convention entered into force on August 1st, 2014. One might think that women will be less at risk of suffering violence, those who are already victims will be more protected, Justice will be quicker in having to do with these cases and more certain, children more aware of the risks that undermine in misogynous and odd relationships and who abuses, the stalkers and rapists finally change register, they will help and will stop to rape and kill women.
But gender-based violence isn’t a fairy tale, for centuries exists and persists. It was never cleared with the entry into force of a rule, or by introducing only partly effective policy with counter-action and prevention, although prudent from international organizations. An evidence is that if in 2014 still we need a Convention that’s so well articulated to remind us what and how many areas on which operate for a true structural change in contrast to gender-based violence, this means that even if the road is built, still must be traveled (Baldry, 2014). To date, has Italy all the cards in good standing, is ready? Last year ratified the Convention, has hastily put together rules on so-called femicide (Law 119/2013) in order to respond to some of the articles ratified in the Convention, putting in a broader Decree-Law 93/13 containing rules on the protection of order and public security, Civil Protection and for the extension of the compulsory administration of provinces. Sure, has respected what is required in some of the articles ratified in the Convention, on the other has yet to engage: the society, the Government, everyone.
But let’s see the positive and examine, in accordance with the Convention, what is done, what is being done and what routes should be still undertaken to satisfy the provisions of the Convention to engage gender-based violence in a really structural way and not sporadic and limited or based on emotional waves of the moment or trends.
View the Full Document
Council of Europe Convention: A Road Map
Other Links
http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/standardsetting/convention-violence/default_en.asp
http://www.womensmeetingplace.com/2014/08/04/can-nigeria-implement-the-istanbul-convention/
