MP and member of the Women’s Parliamentary Network Marija Obradovic reported that Serbia was the eighth country, Council of Europe member, to submit the instruments for the ratification of the Convention obliging itself to comprehensive protection of the victims of domestic violence and due punishment of the offenders.

“Serbia has demonstrated serious commitment to the fight against discrimination, domestic violence and violence against women thus becoming a best practice example in the region, adopted by other countries which are yet to ratify the Istanbul Convention. The experience of Serbia women parliamentarians in the establishment of the Women’s Parliamentary Network which has significantly contributed to the promotion and adoption process of the Istanbul Convention, is very important for European women parliamentarians who remain the less represented gender in their respective parliaments”, said Obradovic.

MP Dubravka Filipovski said it was important that, after the ratification of the Convention, all the countries set up working groups in their parliaments to draft an action plan and monitor the implementation of the Istanbul Convention.

The Council of Europe Conference gathered parliamentarians, government representatives, experts and NGO representatives of the countries in the region: Bulgaria, Romania, Hungary, Moldova and Serbia.