(1)

The Union participated alongside the Member States as an observer in the negotiation of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (‘the Convention’), which was adopted by the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers on 7 April 2011. The Convention was opened for signature on 11 May 2011.

(2)

In accordance with Article 75 of the Convention, the Convention is open for signature by the Union.

(3)

The Convention creates a comprehensive and multifaceted legal framework to protect women against all forms of violence. It seeks to prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and girls and domestic violence. It covers a broad range of measures, from data collection and awareness-raising to legal measures on criminalising different forms of violence against women. It includes measures for the protection of victims and the provision of support services, and addresses the gender-based violence dimension in matters of asylum and migration. The Convention establishes a specific monitoring mechanism in order to ensure effective implementation of its provisions by the Parties.

(4)

The signing of the Convention on behalf of the Union will contribute to the realisation of equality between women and men in all areas, which is a core objective and value of the Union to be realised in all its activities in accordance with Articles 2 and 3 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), Article 8 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU) and Article 23 of the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union. Violence against women is a violation of their human rights and an extreme form of discrimination, entrenched in gender inequalities and contributing to maintaining and reinforcing them. By committing to the implementation of the Convention, the Union confirms its engagement in combating violence against women within its territory and globally, and reinforces its current political action and existing substantial legal framework in the area of criminal procedural law, which is of particular relevance for women and girls.

(5)

Both the Union and its Member States have competence in the fields covered by the Convention.

(6)

The Convention should be signed on behalf of the Union as regards matters falling within the competence of the Union insofar as the Convention may affect common rules or alter their scope. This applies, in particular, to certain provisions of the Convention relating to judicial cooperation in criminal matters and to the provisions of the Convention relating to asylum and non-refoulement. The Member States retain their competence insofar as the Convention does not affect common rules or alter the scope thereof.

(7)

The Union also has exclusive competence to accept the obligations set out in the Convention with respect to its own institutions and public administration.

(8)

Since the competence of the Union and the competences of the Member States are interlinked, the Union should become a Party to the Convention alongside its Member States, so that together they can fulfil the obligations laid down by the Convention and exercise the rights vested in them in a coherent manner.

(9)

This Decision concerns the provisions of the Convention on judicial cooperation in criminal matters insofar as those provisions may affect common rules or alter their scope. It does not concern Articles 60 and 61 of the Convention, which are addressed by a separate Council decision on signing to be adopted in parallel with this Decision.

(10)

Ireland and the United Kingdom are bound by Directives 2011/36/EU (1) and 2011/93/EU (2) of the European Parliament and of the Council and are therefore taking part in the adoption of this Decision.

(11)

In accordance with Articles 1 and 2 of Protocol No 22 on the position of Denmark, annexed to the TEU and to the TFEU, Denmark is not taking part in the adoption of this Decision and is not bound by it or subject to its application.

(12)

The Convention should be signed,