Amnesty International UK - Remove the Reservation to Article 59 of the Istanbul Convention

The UK’s ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention), ten years after having signed it, is an overdue but very welcome step. However, reservation to article 59 is disappointing and should be withdrawn.  

AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL IS CALLING ON THE UK GOVERNMENT TO: 

• Withdraw the reservation to article 59 

• Extend the DV Rule to all migrant victims in addition to those on spousal visas 

• Extend the duration of the DDVC from three to six months and ensure it is of an amount adequate for women to be able to pay to access refuge spaces and update it according to rising inflation and cost of living 

• Abolish NRPF for all migrant victims of domestic violence  

• Accept the UPR recommendations for withdrawing the reservation and to extend protection to migrant women, including those with no access to public funds.