THE Scottish National Party has accused David Cameron of stalling over women’s rights.

The party has called on the Prime Minister to ratify an EU convention on tackling violence against women.

The Istanbul Convention is the “gold standard” legal framework for combatting the issue as it forces government, local authorities and charities to work together.

One in four women in the UK are the victims of some form of violence at some point in their lives.

The UK signed up to the Convention and agreed to implement a series of coordinated measures in 2012.

But since then Conservative ministers has failed to ratify the Convention.

Now SNP MP Gavin Newlands has written to Mr Cameron urging him to act.

The letter has been co-signed by several campaign groups, including the White Ribbon UK, Scottish Women’s Aid, Women’s Aid UK, End Violence Against Women Coalition, Engender, iChange, No More Page 3, Rape Crisis Scotland and Zero Tolerance.

Mr Newlands said: “David Cameron must stop stalling on this vital piece of legislation. The UK Government can and must do more to end violence against women, and I am calling on him today to ensure there is cooperation between Government, local authorities and charities.

“Despite all the positive work that has taken place in ending the violence that many women experience on a daily basis, it should shame and anger us all that one in four women in the UK will still experience some form of violence at some point in their lives."

The UK Government has said that it remains committed to ratifying the convention.