Bulgaria will sign the Convention of the Council of Europe on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, the government has decided.

Joining the Istanbul Convention is among the priorities of Bulgaria during the country’s current chairmanship of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe (November 2015-May 2016), the government said in a statement following a weekly meeting on Wednesday.

The treaty opens the path for creating a legal framework at pan-European level to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence. It defines and criminalizes various forms of violence against women (including forced marriage, female genital mutilation, stalking, physical and psychological violence and sexual violence).

The convention was opened for signature in Istanbul on 11 May 2011. It has been signed by 38 countries, including 24 of the 28 EU member states.

Bulgaria will have to amend its legislation after signing the convention to reflect commitments provided for by the document. An analysis of those amendments is currently ongoing, the government said.

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