The focus of the conference will be ‘Tackling violence against women in Wales’

A UK-wide legal framework for tackling violence against women is to be examined from the perspective of what it means for Wales at a conference in Cardiff.

The Istanbul Convention, created by the Council of Europe, is aimed at preventing violence against women and domestic violence. It has been signed by almost 40 countries.

The UK Government signed the Convention in 2012 but has not yet ratified it.  It is committed to ratification but says that amendments to domestic law – to take extra-territorial jurisdiction over a range of offences – are necessary before this can be done.

The Cardiff Conference organised by the Wales Assembly of Women, an independent campaigning organisation, will hear from a range of experts about how the Istanbul Convention can be embraced in Wales.

Wales Assembly Women Chair Professor Jackie Jones, an internationally recognised expert in human rights for women, will kick off the debate with why the Istanbul Convention is important in Wales. 

Other speakers include Yasmin Khan, Welsh Government National Advisor for Violence against Women, Gender-based Violence, Domestic Abuse and Sexual Violence and representatives from Welsh Women’s Aid and the Equality and Human Rights Commission who will look at how the framework will work on the ground.

Historian Dr Rachel Lock-Lewis of USW will look at What difference did the vote make? 100 years of Women in Politics in Wales. The Audrey Jones Awards for Research by Women will be presented for research that looks at Women who choose not to have children and Gender and low pay.

The Great Leap Forward: Embracing the Istanbul Convention in Wales to end violence against women and girls will be held at Cardiff University School of Social Sciences, Cardiff, CF10 3WT on Saturday 28 April, 10am – 3.30pm. Attendance at the conference, which includes lunch, is £12.  For more information or to register please email: [email protected] or [email protected]