Question to the Home Office:

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, when the Government plans to ratify the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

The previous Government signed the Istanbul Convention in June 2012. This Government remains committed to its ratification.

The UK already complies with the vast majority of the articles through its comprehensive work to protect women and girls. However, primary legislation will be required to comply with the extra-territorial jurisdiction provisions in Article 44 of the Convention before ratification.

The Government is liaising with the devolved administrations about ratification, including any further legislative steps necessary. The Government takes its international commitments very seriously and will only commit to such ratification when we are absolutely satisfied that we comply with all articles.