CONCLUSION

The Twinning Methodology proposed in this document has been designed to support efforts by state authorities and their peers to better respond to the urgent need to eradicate violence against women in all its forms, including domestic violence. The pervasive prevalence of violence against women has made this an urgent priority for states and the institutions responsible for ensuring gender equality. The Twinning Methodology was designed as a tool to implement the provisions of the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention because the convention offers a solid and comprehensive framework to eradicate violence against women and promote gender equality. The three phases of this Twinning Methodology (namely Defining scope, goal and added value; Dynamics and format of the Twinning peer-to-peer exchanges; and Assessing impact and moving forward) can act as a useful tool for state authorities and their peers to enhance their work in preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, and to promote gender equality in their overall work, based on the main existing standards in this field, in particular, the Istanbul Convention.