Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill (HC Bill 12)

1 Ratification of the Istanbul Convention on violence against women

It shall be the duty of Her Majesty’s Government to take all reasonable steps as
soon as reasonably practicable to enable the United Kingdom to become
compliant with the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and
5combating violence against women and domestic violence, Treaty no. 210 (the
“Istanbul Convention”).

2 The timetable for ratification of the Istanbul Convention

(1) The Secretary of State shall lay a report before each House of Parliament setting
out—

(a) 10the steps required to be taken to enable the United Kingdom to ratify
the Istanbul Convention; and

(b) the date by which the Secretary of State would expect the United
Kingdom to be able to ratify the Convention.

(2) The report at subsection (1) must be laid within four weeks of this Act receiving
15Royal Assent.

(3) When Her Majesty’s Government has determined that the United Kingdom is
compliant with the Istanbul Convention, it shall make a statement to each
House of Parliament—

(a) of its determination, and

(b) 20the date by which the Convention will be ratified.

3 Reports on progress

(1) The Secretary of State shall each year lay before each House of Parliament a
report on the following—

(a) (before ratification) any alteration in the date by which the United
5Kingdom expects to be able to ratify the Convention and the reasons for
the alteration;

(b) (before ratification) the administrative measures taken by Her
Majesty’s Government to enable the United Kingdom to ratify the
Istanbul Convention;

(c) 10(before ratification) the legislative proposals brought forward,
including those to the Scottish Parliament, the National Assembly for
Wales and the Northern Ireland Assembly, to enable the United
Kingdom to ratify the Istanbul Convention;

(d) (before ratification) the measures to be taken and legislation required to
15enable the United Kingdom to ratify the Istanbul Convention; and

(e) the measures taken by Her Majesty’s Government to ensure that the
United Kingdom is, and remains, compliant with the Istanbul
Convention, including but not limited to measures to—

(i) protect women against violence, and prevent, prosecute and
20eliminate violence against women and domestic violence;

(ii) contribute to the elimination of discrimination against women,
promote equality between women and men, and empower
women;

(iii) protect and assist victims of violence against women and
25domestic violence;

(iv) promote international co-operation against these forms of
violence; and

(v) provide support and assistance to organisations and law
enforcement agencies to co-operate in order to adopt an
30integrated approach to eliminating violence against women and
domestic violence.

(2) The first annual report shall be laid no later than 1 November 2017.

(3) Subsequent annual reports shall be laid no later than 1 November each year.

4 Short title, commencement and extent

(1) 35This Act may be cited as the Preventing and Combating Violence Against
Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Act 2017.

(2) The provisions of this Act come into force on the day on which this Act receives
Royal Assent.

(3) This Act extends to England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.