Citation

Sobočan AM, Leskošek V, Devaney J. J. Fam. Violence 2023; 38(6): 1009-1013.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2023, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1007/s10896-023-00592-w

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

On 7th April 2011, the Council of Europe, an international organization focusing on human rights, democracy, and the rule of law, adopted the "Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence." Commonly referred to as the Istanbul Convention after the city where Ministers signed the document, the convention provides a comprehensive legal framework and policy approach to combatting gendered violence for 46 member states, covering approximately 670 million people. By the end of 2022, the convention had been ratified by 38 European states, meaning that those states are legally bound by the provisions of the convention, which introduce a range of measures in respect of the "four Ps": Prevention, Protection and Support of Victims, Prosecution of Offenders, and Integrated Policies. Importantly, Article 11 of the convention establishes obligations in relation to data collection and support for research, and one outcome of the convention is the shaping of the research agenda in respect of gender-based violence in Europe.

Since 2015 researchers, policy makers and service providers have met biennially at the European Conference on Domestic Violence to discuss how research can inform our understanding of, and response to, domestic violence and abuse. The 2021 conference, hosted by colleagues in Ljubljana, Slovenia, was the inspiration behind this special issue. While there is considerable focus in research on the issues that need to be researched, the conference also highlighted the importance of considering the ethical dimensions of research designs and approaches, and the potential for different methodologies to extend our insights. Focusing on these important aspects of how we do research can ensure that the highest standards are met regarding the integrity of the research process, the robustness of findings, and the ability for research to better elucidate the realities of those experiencing domestic violence and abuse. It can also help better support governments and agencies seeking to prevent and address all forms of gender based violence...

Language: en