EU women promised new dawn under anti-violence pact

The EU is meant to become a safer place for women from Sunday (1 October), as the Istanbul Convention enters into force in Europe.

The treaty is to combat violence against women by obliging the EU's 27 member states to impose "dissuasive" criminal penalties, train professionals to help victims, and pay for awareness-raising campaigns.

Originally crafted by the Council of Europe in Strasbourg and adopted by the EU by a majority vote in May, all 27 countries have signed it but six...