Question to the Home Office:

To ask Her Majesty’s Government when the United Kingdom signed the Istanbul Protocol; and when they plan to ratify it.

The previous Government signed the Istanbul Convention in June 2012. This Government remains committed to its ratification. The Government takes its international commitments very seriously and will only commit to such ratification when we are absolutely satisfied that we comply with all articles. The UK already complies with the vast majority of the articles through its comprehensive work to protect women and girls. However primary legislation is needed to comply with the extra-territorial jurisdiction provisions in Article 44 of the Convention before ratification.