To which extent does international law affect domestic implementation in the domain of policy and legal measures regarding gender based violence? Which future directions should be prioritized? During the Gender based violence and human rights symposium on 8 December 2017 (inter)national experts critically reflected on developments in international regulation of gender based violence. The morning programme addressed global developments. In the afternoon European developments were the focus.

Atria organized this symposium. In collaboration with the University of Amsterdam and the Amsterdam Institute for Social Science Research. With the generous support of the City of Amsterdam.

International speakers

Speakers on this symposium were:

• Renée Römkens (Professor Gender Based Violence, University of Amsterdam): Opening lecture The power of international law and un/intended consequences
• Rosa Freedman (Professor of Law, Conflict and Global development, University of Reading (United Kingdom)): The UN, Human Rights, Women and Gender Based Violence
• Rashida Manjoo (Professor International Human Rights Law, University of Cape Town; former UN Special rapporteur on Violence against women): Violence against women: The quest for political accountability through normativity and legality
• Elizabeth Odio Benito (former Minister of Justice Costa Rica and former judge of the International Criminal Court): My Experience in Three International Tribunals
• Rosa Logar (Member of GREVIO monitoring committee of the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention)(Austria)) : Coming into force: the Istanbul Convention as a new HR-instrument to prevent violence against women and domestic violence
• Fleur van Leeuwen (Senior affiliated researcher/Atria): Gender trouble: domestic violence at the European Court of Human Rights
• Ineke Boerefijn (coordinating policy advisor, Netherlands Institute for Human Rights): Invoking the Istanbul Convention before Dutch courts

Istanbul Convention

In the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention, violence against women has been recognized under international human rights law as a violation of human rights. According to the convention, it is the duty of governments to protect women as citizens against this violence. And, above all, to prevent it. A historic milestone. In 2018 The Netherlands will have to report to what extent it is meeting those obligations. It is timely to reflect on the meaning of the convention.