This House of Lords Library briefing provides information on the Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill ahead of its scheduled second reading in the House of Lords on 10 March 2017.
Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages (162 KB , PDF)
The Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill is a House of Commons private member’s bill introduced by Eilidh Whiteford (SNP MP for Banff and Buchan) and is sponsored in the House of Lords by Baroness Gale (Labour). The Bill has completed all stages in the House of Commons and is scheduled to have its second reading in the House of Lords on 10 March 2017.
The Bill seeks to encourage the Government to ratify the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (referred to as the Istanbul Convention)[ii], which the UK signed on 8 June 2012 but has yet to ratify. The Bill makes a number of provisions in this regard. It would require the Secretary of State to lay a report before each House setting out the steps required to enable the UK to ratify the Convention, and the timescale within which this is expected to happen. The report would have to be laid as soon as reasonably practicable after the Act came into force. Clause two would require the Secretary of State to lay a report before both Houses each year until ratification, setting out any changes to the timescale contained in previous reports; administrative measures taken by the government to enable the UK to ratify the Convention; legislative proposals brought forward to enable to UK to ratify; and measures to be taken and legislation required to enable the UK to ratify the Convention.
The Bill would require the first annual report to be laid no later than 1 November 2017.
Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Ratification of Convention) Bill: Briefing for Lords Stages (162 KB , PDF)
The Labour government has called for an “improved and ambitious relationship” with Europe, including a new UK-EU security pact and stronger bilateral partnerships with partners including France, Germany and Joint Expeditionary Force allies. This briefing outlines some of the actions proposed and undertaken by the UK government to improve ties since the July 2024 general election.
The Labour government has set out its short- and long-term plans to reduce the pressure on prison capacity in England and Wales. This includes releasing eligible prisoners on licence into the community after they have served 40% of their sentence and building more prisons. Organisations have highlighted the risk of prison overcrowding on prisoner wellbeing. Some charities have called for better mental health support for prisoners whilst in custody and on release.
While international attention has largely been focused on the Middle East and Ukraine, the civil war in Sudan continues. The UN has characterised the conflict as the “world’s largest hunger crisis”. As peace negotiations stall, concerns are rising not only for the people of Sudan but also about the conflict spreading to neighbouring states.
