The Netherlands ratified on November 18 the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also named the Istanbul Convention. The convention was established on May 11, 2011, in Istanbul, and signed by the Netherlands in November 2012.

The convention aims to give a powerful impulse to the prevention and combating of violence against women and domestic violence.

By committing countries that become a party to the convention to taking measures that target the prevention of violence, protect victims and punishing perpetrators, it is hoped that the agreement will reduce violence against women and domestic violence on a pan-European level.

On June 9, 2015, the Dutch Parliament passed the legislative proposal containing the enforcement of this convention, and the Senate passed the legislative proposal on October 13.

The website of the Council of Europe gives an overview of countries that have ratified the convention. According to this website, the Istanbul Convention will come into force in The Netherlands on March 1, 2016 (Art. 75, sub 4 of the convention).