Secretary General Marija Pejčinović Burić has underlined the relevance of the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as Istanbul Convention, at the opening ceremony of the Generation Equality Forum in Paris.
"Last year, we saw a surge in domestic violence during COVID lockdowns. The Convention provides three advantages that no country alone can: it raises national standards; provides a monitoring mechanism; and ensures co-operation between governments in the prosecution of these crimes", said the Secretary General.
The event, hosted by France and co-chaired with Mexico, was opened by French President Emmanuel Macron and United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres. It is part of a series of world conferences on women organised by the United Nations since 1975. Heads of States and Governments, civil society and youth-led organisations, as well as private sector leaders and philanthropic foundations have presented their commitments to launch a new global momentum for women's rights. The Fourth Conference, which took place in Beijing in 1995, was a historical turning point for gender equality at the international level.
Speech by Marija Pejčinović Burić
