Summary
The Council of Europe's independent expert group (GREVIO) is conducting its second evaluation mission in Switzerland from March 9-13, 2026. The focus is on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The review is based on Switzerland's second state report, which the Federal Council adopted on September 26, 2025.
Persons
- Federal Council (Institution)
Topics
- Violence against women
- Domestic violence
- Istanbul Convention
- Council of Europe evaluation
Clarus Lead
The Council of Europe is conducting a systematic review of Swiss measures to combat violence against women. The GREVIO mission (Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence) assesses compliance with international obligations and identifies potential for improvement. This is already the second evaluation mission and signals continuous monitoring of convention implementation by independent experts.
Detailed Summary
The Istanbul Convention is the Council of Europe's binding international framework for preventing and combating gender-based violence. Switzerland has committed to implementing it and regularly reports on its progress. The current evaluation process is based on the second state report, which shows what measures have been implemented since the first review.
The five-day evaluation mission allows GREVIO to question authorities, organizations, and affected persons on site. This contributes to a comprehensive assessment and creates the foundation for concrete recommendations to improve violence prevention and victim protection in Switzerland.
Key Statements
- GREVIO conducts second evaluation mission in Switzerland (March 9–13, 2026)
- Review is based on Switzerland's second state report on the Istanbul Convention
- Independent expert group assesses implementation of international obligations to combat violence against women and domestic violence
Critical Questions
Evidence/Data Quality: What specific indicators and datasets does GREVIO use to assess the effectiveness of measures against violence against women?
Conflicts of Interest: How does GREVIO ensure that its evaluations are independent of political or economic interests of individual states?
Causality: What differences between the first and second evaluation missions are expected, and can improvements be attributed to specific measures?
Feasibility: What concrete recommendations did GREVIO provide in its first evaluation mission, and how has Switzerland implemented them?
Resources: Does Switzerland have sufficient financial and personnel resources to implement all recommendations of the Istanbul Convention?
Comparability: How does Switzerland compare internationally in combating violence against women?
Source Directory
Primary Source: Council of Europe evaluates Switzerland's progress in combating violence against women and domestic violence – https://www.news.admin.ch/de/newnsb/zw2fL2gVa9pvnvfBDBOiZ
Verification Status: ✓ March 9, 2026
This text was created with the support of an AI model. Editorial responsibility: clarus.news | Fact-checking: March 9, 2026