Women victims of domestic violence can obtain refugee status in another country

According to the Istanbul Convention, which came into force today, women victims of domestic violence can obtain refugee status in another country, writes dailysabah, as reported by the BH news agency Patria.

So far, the Convention has been ratified by Turkey and other European countries including Albania, Italy, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Austria, Spain, Andorra and Denmark, while in the coming months it will come into force in France, Malta and Sweden. BiH ratified the Convention in November last year.

The obligation of signatory countries is to facilitate the asylum process for women who are victims of violence and sexual abuse, regardless of their status and residence.

- Violence against women remains one of the most widespread forms of human rights violations that occur daily in Europe - said Nils Muiznieks, Commissioner for Human Rights of the Council of Europe.

Statistical data presented by the Council of Europe show that violence causes the death of more than 10 women every day in Europe. In Turkey alone, in the first half of this year, 129 women died in cases of domestic violence. The implementation of the Convention in signatory countries will be monitored by the Monitoring Commission.

The Istanbul Convention has been signed by another 22 states, but they have not ratified it. The Convention obliges signatory countries to launch a campaign to raise awareness of gender equality, as well as to implement existing laws in the fight against domestic violence and the protection of victims, Patria reports.