President opens conference on the converging impact of the European Convention and the Istanbul Convention
On 18 September 2025, Court President Mattias Guyomar delivered opening remarks at a conference focused on the converging impact of the European Convention on Human Rights and the Istanbul Convention.
This half-day event was organised by the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO) together with the Law Faculty of the University of Oxford and the Open Council of Europe Academic Networks.
The conference brought together judges from the European Court of Human Rights, members of GREVIO, representatives of Council of Europe member states, academics, practitioners, and civil society actors, who explored the growing synergy between the European Court of Human Rights and GREVIO, marking the 75th anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights.
Addressing the conference participants, the Court President said: “The European Convention on Human Rights and the Istanbul Convention together ensure coherence, avoid fragmentation, and reinforce the fight against violence through a shared methodology strengthening the protection of women across Europe.”
Following the opening remarks by Court President Mattias Guyomar and GREVIO President Maria Andriani Kostopoulou, the conference featured panel discussions on three topics: “Barriers and breakthroughs: Access to justice without discrimination for women victims of violence”, “Averting (further) harm: protective measures and procedural safeguards”, and “Confronting realities and gender stereotypes: legal responses to child custody, visitation rights, and domestic violence”.
The Court’s Vice-President, Ivana Jelić, and GREVIO member Ellen O'Malley-Dunlop delivered concluding remarks, highlighting next steps.