High Commissioner takes part in launch event for GREVIO General Recommendation No.1 on the digital dimension of violence against women

The Istanbul Convention (Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence) is the first and, to date, the only international agreement on tackling violence against women as a form of human rights violation. Traditionally, violence against women is considered to be a manifestation of gender-based discrimination.

GREVIO – which has, since the Convention was adopted, monitored compliance with its provisions by the various member states of the Council of Europe – has noted in the course of its field work that the increasing use of new technologies has resulted in a rise in violence against women that is committed online or facilitated by technology. Encouraged by anonymity and automating, many forms of violence occurring offline are now being replicated and even intensified through digital means.

Faced with this situation, GREVIO adopted its first General Recommendation on the digital dimension of violence against women on 20 October 2021. To raise awareness of this topical issue, a launch event in the form of a webinar was held by the Council of Europe on 24 November 2021.

The High Commissioner for the Protection of Rights was delighted to be able to take part in this event, led by some of those involved in negotiating the Recommendation. The event highlighted the need to take inclusive action against these new forms of violence, accounting for the constantly shifting ways in which they are manifested.