The Italian Minister for Labour, Social policies and Equal Opportunities, Elsa Fornero, has signed today on behalf of Italy, the Council of Europe convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

The Council of Europe convention, open to accession by non-European countries and by the European Union, has now been signed by 24 countries and it is the first legally binding instrument in Europe creating a comprehensive legal framework to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence. The Convention also establishes an international mechanism to monitor its implementation at national level.

Click here for the Convention