ASSEDEL was delighted to welcome Marie Claude Hofner, a medical doctor by profession, who is the first woman doctor to sit on the Istanbul Convention’s monitoring group in the Council of Europe – the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO). The training session addressed the significant issue of violence against women, which is exacerbated by a patriarchal societal structure. Violence against women is a multifaceted issue that can be compared to an iceberg, with the visible part representing the most violent and extreme cases of feminicide and physical harm. However, it also encompasses softer forms of violence, such as sexist jokes.
The GREVIO member suggested that violence against women should be regarded not only as a legal and political concern, but as a public issue of wide significance. In order to treat something as a public issue it has to meet the following requirements: 1) it must be frequent; 2) it must have serious consequences for health; 3) it must have a negative impact on the community; and 4) it must be preventable. A closer look at violence against women reveals that it is a matter of public concern:
1) The frequency of violence against women is very high: 30.7% of women in the EU experience physical, sexual violence or threats over their lifetime. That means almost one of every three women will live in a situation of violence.
2) The consequences of violence against women on health are grave. The impact on both physical and mental health is significant. For instance, women who have been subjected to violence or are living in a violent environment are more likely to suffer from depression, suicide and addiction. They also face an increased risk of developing chronic diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease.
3) The impact on the community is significant. A situation of violence has implications for both individuals and society as a whole. For instance, in 70% of cases, children are directly exposed, turning them often into victims of violence. Similarly, 40-60% of perpetrators have been exposed to violence during infancy, normalizing violent conducts. Thus, leading to a vicious cycle of violence. Furthermore, the financial impact of violence on society is significant. As it has implications for the healthcare sector, generates social costs and has a negative impact on the workforce.
4) Prevention is possible since violence is a behavior and behaviors can be changed, learning non-violent interactions. In this context, public policies are required to combat inequality between men and women. Prevention measures such as early detection of victims, education of children and your people, and protection of victims have been evaluated and assessed, showing that they work.
Amid this situation, the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as “the Istanbul Convention” (IC), was established on the 1st of August 2014. It is the gold standard of legislation on gender-based violence, which aims to protect all women, including women with special needs, from all forms of violence, including domestic violence and contribute to the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women and promote equality. All members of the Council of Europe, with the exception of Azerbaijan, have signed the IC, and it is open to accession by all states worldwide. To better understand the convention, it is essential to clarify certain concepts. Violence against women constitutes a violation of human rights based on gender. It is associated with inequalities between women and men within society, resulting in discrimination against women. It is rooted in a historical imbalance of power between women and men, with gender inequality being the underlying cause.
Based on the concept of gender as socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for women and men, gender-based violence emerges as a form of violence that is directed against woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately. In this context, Marie Claude Hofner highlights the role of patriarchy in perpetuating and enabling violence against women. While living in a patriarchal society does not automatically lead to violence on the individual level, it uncovers a structural problem.
In order to tackle this situation, the convention acts within a 4P-pillar strategy approach. Firstly, engaging in prevention through awareness-raising campaigns and educational programmes, aiming to change attitudes and laws as well as deconstruct gender roles that make violence against women acceptable for society. Secondly, the protection strategy focuses on the role of the state in protecting women from violence and creating a safe environment. Thirdly, prosecution, emphasising the need to establish legislations, good investigations, and systematic risk assessments, to fight violence against women. In particular, it is imperative to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions. Finally, policies encompass a wide range of responses. This means that violence against women cannot be defeated only through police engagement, education, media campaigns, or economic measures. All sectors must work together in a coordinated way to be successful.
The convention employs a two-pillar monitoring system, comprising a group of 15 independent experts. These experts conduct in-depth assessments and generate reports on the countries (GREVIO). These reports are then submitted to the Committee of the Parties within the Council of Europe for further review.
Finally, it should be noted that violence against women is not merely an issue affecting women and girls; it also affects men and boys, who must play a central role in the solution. Success will only be achieved through their active involvement.
Training Session on the Istanbul Convention and the Work of GREVIO
On 3 October 2025, ASSEDEL had the pleasure of hosting Dr. Marie-Claude Hofner, medical doctor and member of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) — the independent monitoring body of the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, widely known as the Istanbul Convention.
The session provided a unique opportunity for ASSEDEL’s team to explore, in depth, the functioning of GREVIO and the broader context of the Istanbul Convention — a pioneering international treaty that remains the gold standard for the protection of women and girls from violence.
Violence Against Women: A Persistent and Complex Reality
Dr. Hofner began by recalling that violence against women remains one of the most widespread and persistent human rights violations in Europe and beyond. She illustrated the complexity of this phenomenon with the image of an iceberg: the visible tip represents the most extreme and public forms of violence — such as physical assaults or femicides — while the much larger invisible part represents the countless hidden forms of violence: psychological manipulation, verbal abuse, economic control, and even daily sexist remarks.
This analogy serves as a reminder that the fight against violence must go far beyond addressing only the visible symptoms — it must tackle the underlying structural and cultural roots of gender inequality.
From Private Matter to Public Concern
Dr. Hofner emphasised that violence against women should not be considered a private or individual problem, but rather a public issue requiring collective responsibility and state action.
For a social phenomenon to be recognized as a public issue, it must meet several criteria: it must be frequent, have serious health consequences, negatively affect society as a whole, and be preventable. All these conditions apply to gender-based violence.
• Frequency: Studies show that nearly one in three women (30.7%) in the European Union experiences physical or sexual violence, or threats, during her lifetime.
• Health impact: The impact on both physical and mental health is grave. Victims are far more likely to suffer from depression, suicidal thoughts, addiction, and chronic health conditions such as cardiovascular diseases.
• Social consequences: Around 70% of children in households where violence occurs are directly exposed to it, and 40–60% of perpetrators were themselves victims during childhood — perpetuating a vicious cycle of violence.
• Prevention: Because violence is a learned behavior, it can also be unlearned. Measures such as early detection of victims, education of children and your people, awareness-raising, and protection of victims should be implemented. All these prevention measures have been evaluated and assessed, showing that they work.
Dr. Hofner stressed that gender-based violence has far-reaching effects that go beyond the individual level — it affects families, communities, and entire societies. Its economic impact is also considerable, generating enormous costs for healthcare systems and lost productivity.
The Istanbul Convention: The Gold Standard of Protection
Adopted by the Council of Europe in 2011 and entering into force in 2014, the Convention is open not only to the 46 member states of the Council of Europe (all except Azerbaijan have signed it), but also to non-European countries, showing its universal value.
It protects all women — including those belonging to vulnerable groups such as migrants, refugees, or women with disabilities — and recognizes that violence against women is both a form of discrimination and a violation of human rights.
The Istanbul Convention is built around the ‘4Ps’, a comprehensive approach that integrates multiple dimensions of action:
- Prevention — States must address the root causes of violence by promoting gender equality, deconstructing gender roles, and organizing awareness and educational campaigns.
- Protection — The strategy focuses on the role of the state in protecting women from violence and creating a safe environment.
- Prosecution — The focus should lie on establishing legislation, good investigations, and systematic risk assessments, to fight violence against women. In particular, it is imperative to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable for their actions.
- Integrated Policies — States must coordinate policies across all sectors — justice, health, education, and law enforcement — to ensure a coherent and efficient response.
- GREVIO: Monitoring the Implementation of the Convention
The Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) is responsible for monitoring the implementation of the Istanbul Convention in each state party. It is composed of 15 independent experts elected for their competence and integrity. GREVIO’s work is based on two main mechanisms:
• Country evaluation reports, which assess how states are implementing the Convention’s provisions in law and in practice based on detailed questionnaires to governments; through country visits, and information delivered by NGOs.
• Thematic evaluations and recommendations, aimed at strengthening public policies and improving coordination among institutions.
A Global and Collective Responsibility
Dr. Hofner reminded participants that the fight against violence is not only the responsibility of women — men and boys must also be part of the solution. Changing mentalities, challenging gender stereotypes, and promoting respectful relationships require the participation of everyone in society. - She concluded by underlining the importance of education and early awareness, both for children and adults, as a means to prevent violence before it occurs. Addressing the roots of inequality and ensuring consistent, long-term political commitment remain essential for lasting change.
ASSEDEL’s Commitment
By organising this training session, ASSEDEL reaffirmed its commitment to human rights and gender equality. Through its educational activities, legal analysis, and advocacy work, the organisation continues to promote a culture of respect, justice, and dignity for all. - The exchange with Dr. Hofner enriched the understanding of the ASSEDEL team on the mechanisms of the Istanbul Convention and on the practical challenges faced by GREVIO in its mission to ensure the effective implementation of women’s rights across Europe.
- ASSEDEL warmly thanks Dr. Marie-Claude Hofner for her availability and for sharing her expertise, which greatly contributed to strengthening the knowledge and motivation of its young team in Strasbourg.