Decade-long impact and future hurdles of the Istanbul Convention

In a significant milestone, the Council of Europe will host a high-level conference on May 11 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the signing of the Istanbul Convention. Led by the German Chairmanship and the Council of Europe, the event will culminate with a closing statement by Minister of State Michael Roth.

The Istanbul Convention, a treaty under the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, is a landmark agreement aimed at preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The Convention has achieved much in recent years, raising awareness of these issues, promoting gender equality, and combating sexism.

The Convention requires contracting states to undertake measures such as raising public awareness, providing support services for women, and enhancing the criminal prosecution of perpetrators. The concept of violence covered by the Convention includes physical and sexual violence, psychological violence, stalking, and sexual harassment.

Of the 47 member states of the Council of Europe, 34 countries are currently contracting states to the Istanbul Convention. Notably, Germany is among them, with Prof. Dr. Judith Hermanns serving as the German expert on the independent expert committee, GREVIO, which monitors the implementation of the obligations arising from the Convention.

However, the pandemic has revealed a concerning increase in violence against women and domestic violence in several European contracting states. This underscores the need for continued vigilance and action in upholding the principles of the Istanbul Convention.

While the European Union as a whole has signed the Istanbul Convention, it has yet to be ratified. Eleven countries of the Council of Europe have signed the Convention but not yet ratified it, including Latvia, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria.

Not all member states have signed or ratified the Convention. Russia and Azerbaijan, for instance, have neither taken these steps. In Poland, the government has requested the Constitutional Court to examine the compatibility of the Convention with the Polish Constitution but has not announced a withdrawal.

Turkey, a signatory to the Convention, withdrew from it on 22 March 2021, effective from 1 July.

The Istanbul Convention provides numerous tools to effectively protect women and girls from all forms of violence. It obliges contracting states to criminalize practices such as forced marriage, forced abortion, forced sterilization, and female genital mutilation.

The conference aims to identify and analyze current and future challenges in the fight against violence against women and domestic violence. It is a crucial step towards ensuring the continued progress and success of the Istanbul Convention in the years to come.

On the occasion of the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the Council of Europe, Heiko Maas, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Marija Pejčinović Burić, Secretary General, issued a declaration regarding the Istanbul Convention. The declaration reaffirms the Council's commitment to the Convention and its ongoing efforts to protect the rights and safety of women and girls.

At the request of the European Parliament, the European Court of Justice is currently preparing an opinion on the legal basis for ratification, also in view of a unanimous decision by the Council. This opinion will provide valuable guidance as the EU moves towards ratifying the Istanbul Convention.

The Istanbul Convention, now a decade old, continues to be a beacon of hope in the fight against violence against women and domestic violence. As the world marks this milestone, it is essential to remember the progress made and to redouble efforts in ensuring the Convention's principles are upheld and its provisions are implemented effectively.

Decade-long impact and future hurdles of the Istanbul Convention

Decade-long impact and future hurdles of the Istanbul Convention

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