EU Takes a Stand: A Commitment to the Istanbul Convention

03-10-2023

Mira Nerpel

Women’s Rights Researcher, 

Global Human Rights Defence.

The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women, commonly known as the Istanbul Convention, first came to light in 2011 (COEP 2021). The Istanbul Convention is a legal framework criminalizing various forms of violence against women. At this time this treaty was the first of its kind. After three years of persistent efforts, the convention came into effect on August 1, 2014, following its 10th ratification. The treaty's obligations transcended geographical boundaries, binding all signatory governments. 

The essence of the convention revolved around the four Ps: Preventing violence, Protecting victims, Prosecuting perpetrators, and Implementing comprehensive policies (COEP 2021). Furthermore, the Istanbul Convention include various forms of gender-based violence, such as forced marriage, female genital mutilation, forced abortion or sexual harassment. “In addition, the Istanbul Convention sets out the obligation to ensure that culture, custom, religion, tradition or so-called “honor” are not regarded as justification for any of the acts of violence covered by its scope” (COEP 2021). The convention's impact extended beyond its legal framework; it birthed GREVIO, an independent body entrusted with overseeing its implementation. GREVIO played a pivotal role in evaluating legislative measures taken by member states, ensuring the convention's provisions were realized. It possessed the authority to initiate special inquiries and issue general recommendations, bolstering the convention's effectiveness.

Even within the European Union, where 14 out of the top 20 gender-equal countries reside, the statistics revealed a harsh reality - 22 percent of EU women had experienced violence from an intimate partner (COE 2023). To combat this, the EU, on June 28, 2023, ratified the Istanbul Convention. On October 1st 2023 the Istanbul Convention officially entered into force for the European Union. It aims to prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence, as well as to implement comprehensive and coordinated policies. As a result of a homophobic disinformation campaign, EU member state Bulgaria has not ratified the Istanbul Convention (Sofia Globe 2023).

Sources and further readings:

COEP (2021). 10 Years of the Istanbul Convention. https://www.coe.int/en/web/istanbul-convention/key-facts. Consulted on October 3rd, 2023. 

COEP (Council of Europe Portal) (2023). Istanbul Convention Action against violence against women and domestic violence. https://www.coe.int/en/web/istanbul-convention/grevio. Consulted on October 3rd, 2023. 

COE (Council of Europe) (2023). The European Union deposited the instrument of approval of the Istnabul Convention. https://www.coe.int/en/web/portal/-/the-european-union-deposited-the-instrument-of-approval-of-the-istanbul-convention-. COnsulted on October 3rd, 2023. 

Sofia Globe (2023). The Istanbul Convention enters into effect in the EU on October 1. https://sofiaglobe.com/2023/09/29/istanbul-convention-enters-in-effect-in-eu-on-october-1/. Consulted on October 3rd, 2023.