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Istanbul Convention: the third reading needs you

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#ChangeHerstory, Istanbul Convention, ratification, third reading, 24 February, ask your MPTake action and #ChangeHerstory: invite your MP to a vote on 24 February.

The Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is the most comprehensive legal framework on ending violence against women and girls.

It sets out minimum standards for governments to meet when tackling violence against women.

When a government ratifies the Convention, it is legally bound to follow it.

So, if the UK government ratified the Istanbul Convention, they would have to take all necessary steps it sets out to prevent violence, protect women experiencing violence and prosecute perpetrators.

The UK government would also have to ensure that there is sufficient monitoring of violence against women.

It is a strategic way to tackle violence against women and girls; it is a legal commitment from the UK government to tackle violence against women and girls; and it is a method that engages all sectors and communities across society.

So it is important.

IC Change is a volunteer-led group campaigning for the UK government to ratify the Istanbul Convention on violence against women and so to make it law in the UK.

It offers real, substantial, practical change – if it is made law.

We need 100 MPs to show up on 24 February 2017 to vote for the strongest law the UK has ever seen to tackle violence against women and girls.

We have done this before: 135 MPs showed up to vote on 16 December 2016 for the second reading of the Bill.

We need your help to do this again for the third reading on 24 February 2017.

We need you to contact your MP.

You could send your MP this invitation – and ask them to go and to vote in favour of the Bill.

Or you could email or write to your MP and ask them: Will you commit to attending the Second Reading of the Istanbul Convention Bill on Friday 24 February 2017 and vote in favour of it?

You can of course write more than just that question to your MP and tell them why you want them to support this Bill. If you can, try to make it personal – tell them why you care about ending violence against women.

If your MP does commit to attending, please let ICChange know so they can thank them and you via info[at]icchange.co.uk

You could Tweet your MP to tell them why it is important they support the Private Member’s Bill on the Istanbul Convention.

You can use this website to help you find your MP on Twitter.

Make sure you include: the hashtag #ChangeHerstory and this Twitter handle: @ICchangeUK

Example Tweet: Hi [YOUR MP’S TWITTER HANDLE], will you join us to #ChangeHerstory and support the #IstanbulConvention  Bill on 24 Feb?

Remember to ask your MP: Will you commit to attending the Third Reading of the Istanbul Convention Bill on Friday 24 February 2017 – and voting in favour of it?

Or go and meet your MP.

Setting up a meeting with your MP is a great way to tell them why you think they should support the Bill.

Arrange to go to the next surgery in your area by calling or emailing your MP. You can see our top tips for your meeting with your MP here.

Remember to ask your MP: Will you commit to attending the Third Reading of the Istanbul Convention Bill on Friday 24 February 2017 – and voting in favour of it?

Or invite your MP to your local women’s service.

If you are work for a local women’s organisation focused on tackling violence against women, why not contact your MP and invite them along to show them the work you are doing and how the Istanbul Convention is important to this?

Please contact us if you would like more information or support with this by emailing us at info[at]icchange.co.uk

If you want to know more about the Istanbul Convention, go to IC Change’s About Us page for some links to more detailed pages of information – or for quick questions head to the FAQS.

And please sign – and share widely – our petition.

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