THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION AND RAPE CRISIS SERVICES

That this House notes that despite signing up to the Istanbul Convention in 2012, the UK has failed to enshrine the Convention in law; further notes that the Convention stipulates necessary legislative or other measures to ensure that survivors have access to services facilitating their recovery from sexual violence; welcomes the fact that the public petition brought by campaigner Fern Champion on the issue of funding for Rape Crisis specialist services has attracted more than 150,000 signatures; and calls on the Government to bring forward legislation to enshrine the Istanbul Convention in UK law.