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<p>The Government takes its international commitments very seriously and we have always
been clear on our commitment to ratify the Istanbul Convention.</p><p> </p><p>The
Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification
of Convention) Act 2017 requires Ministers to publish annual reports on their progress
towards being able to ratify the Convention. The most recent report was published
on 31 October 2019 and is available at: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/843509/CCS0919132732-001_Istanbul_Convention_2019_Report_Option_A_Web_Accessible.pdf</p><p><strong>
</strong></p><p>Legislation needs to pass before we can ratify the Convention, so
at this stage we cannot be sure what the timeframe for ratification will be. When
this is clear we will set out a timeframe for ratification. The Domestic Abuse Bill
had its Second Reading on 28 April and has now begun Committee stage for detailed
scrutiny by MPs. Part 6 of the Bill includes provisions for the purposes of Article
44 of the Convention, which requires that criminal courts in the UK have extraterritorial
jurisdiction over certain violent and sexual offences. Additionally, the Domestic
Abuse and Family Proceedings Bill currently before the Northern Ireland Assembly provides
for a new domestic abuse offence which would criminalise psychological violence in
Northern Ireland, as required by Article 33 of the Convention. That Bill also takes
extraterritorial jurisdiction in respect of the new offence and so, together with
the provisions of Part 6 of the Domestic Abuse Bill, will ensure that the law in Northern
Ireland meets the requirements of Article 44.</p>
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