MP demands action to help women

Lanark and Hamilton East MP Angela Crawley has pledged to support a private member’s bill which would require the UK Government to legally commit to providing a better framework for addressing violence against women and girls by making the Istanbul Convention law in the UK.

The legislation requires the UK to take measures to prevent violence against women, protect women experiencing violence and prosecute perpetrators.

Ms Crawley said: “Since my election I have called for action from the UK Government when it comes to tackling violence against women and ensuring cooperation between the UK Government, local authorities and charities.

“Ratifying the Istanbul Convention will not only help to tackle and hopefully one day eradicate genderbased violence but it would also send a clear message that any form of violence against women will not be tolerated.

“Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Women’s Aid have all called for the UK to ratify the paneuropean convention on women’s and girls’ rights and yet we are still waiting for the UK Government to ratify the Istanbul Convention.

“I want to end violence against women and girls in the UK and I therefore support the Istanbul Convention becoming UK law. I urge other MPS to do the same.”

The Istanbul Convention, signed there in 2011, is a Council of Europe convention against violence towards women and domestic violence.