The UK has now ratified The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The ‘Istanbul Convention’ is based on the understanding that violence against women is a form of gender-based violence that is committed against women because they are women. It becomes the obligation of the state to fully address it in all its forms and to take measures to prevent violence against women, protect its victims and prosecute the perpetrators. We received an open letter from some forum members in Latvia after a group of church leaders had spoken against ratifying the convention. We have written our own letter in support of ratifying the convention believing that this is consistent with Christian values.
The Ecumenical Forum of European Christian Women in the UK 