Free Hybrid Event: The Istanbul Convention - The Gold Standard for preventing and combating violence against women?

The United Kingdom became the 37th state to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (‘the Istanbul Convention’) in November 2022, and this year, the UK is being monitored for its implementation of the Convention. The Istanbul Convention is seen as the gold standard because of its comprehensive nature in addressing violence against women in all its forms, but are we making the most of the provisions of the Convention in our work with survivors on the frontline and in the courts?

In this seminar, we will hear from Council of Europe experts, from within Garden Court Chambers, who will speak on the relevance and use of the Convention within the Family courts, particularly care proceedings. They will also consider the role of GREVIO in monitoring and reporting on compliance with the Istanbul Convention, how the evaluation process works in practice, and how GREVIO’s work has led to the development of standards of best practice.

Speaker Bios

Hannah Rought-Brooks, Garden Court Chambers (Chair)
Hannah specialises in family law, with particular reference to public law and children. She regularly acts for parents, local authorities and guardians in complex public law proceedings and has experience in all areas of care, supervision, special guardianship and adoption. Hannah also has experience of cases that have transitioned from the Family Court to the Court of Protection. Alongside her domestic practice Hannah is active in international human rights and humanitarian law. Her particular areas of interest are child rights and women's rights, particularly in times of conflict. 

Malek Wan Daud, Garden Court Chambers
Malek Wan Daud specialises in the law relating to children representing all parties in care proceedings, deprivation of liberty, secure accommodation, adoption (both domestic and international), forced marriage and FGM. Malek regularly represents parties in cases involving serious non-accidental injuries, sex abuse, physical abuse, as well as neglect. He has a particular interest in representing families (parents and children) that are overrepresented in the care system such as ethnic minority families, travelling families, those with disabilities and those with uncertain immigration status.  Malek is eligible to take work from members of the public on a Public Access basis.

Maria Moodie, Garden Court Chambers
Maria has a specialist public law practice in the cross-over areas of community care, human trafficking & modern slavery, migrant welfare, and immigration & asylum law. Maria regularly undertakes both international and domestic advisory and consultancy work related to human trafficking and the treatment of asylum-seeking and migrant women and girls experiencing sexual and gender-based violence. Since 2018, Maria has been instructed by the Council of Europe’s monitoring body, the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) to act as an International Expert on Sexual and Gender-Based Violence in the context of Migration and Asylum. As a member, Maria has participated in several country evaluation visits and has advised on the compatibility of law, policy, and practice of signatory Member States with the requirements of Chapter VII of the Istanbul Convention including recommendations to ensure compliance.

Event Postponed

We regret to inform you that, due to unforeseen circumstances, we must postpone our event 'The Istanbul Convention - The Gold Standard for preventing and combating violence against women?' scheduled to take place on Wednesday 20 March 2024.

We will be in contact to confirm the new date the event will take place in due course.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused.