European Union member states voted on June 1 to ratify the Council of Europe Convention, a month after the European Parliament approved the decision to join the Istanbul Convention to combat violence against women. 

The Istanbul Convention, drafted by the Council of Europe, is a comprehensive legal instrument aimed at protecting women from all forms of violence, including domestic violence. 

By joining this Convention, the EU as well as its member countries join "zero tolerance" towards violence against women. 

"Europe is on the side of women, to protect them from violence. All women and girls deserve a life without violence, it's time for justice and equality", said the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. 

"Today, the European Union is sending a strong signal: we are determined to prevent, condemn and fight violence against women and girls in all its forms," she added. 

The Convention was drawn up by the Council of Europe in 2011. The Council of Europe, which is not an EU body, monitors respect for human rights in 46 member states. 

In May, the European Parliament voted in favor of EU membership in the Istanbul Convention. 

The agreement has not yet been ratified in several EU countries, such as Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovakia. Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention in 2021. 

Although Kosovo is not part of this Council, the Assembly of Kosovo approved this convention on September 25, 2020, making it part of the Constitution of Kosovo.