The Council of Europe expressed alarm on Sunday at the intention of the Polish nationalist conservative government to denounce the Istanbul convention. This would mark "a significant step backwards" in the protection of women against gender-based violence.
"Leaving the Istanbul Convention would be highly regrettable and would be a major step backwards in the protection of women against violence in Europe", worried, in a written declaration Marija Pejcinovic Buric, Secretary General of the Council of Europe, a pan-European organization for the defense of human rights and the rule of law based in Strasbourg.
A supranational tool to prevent gender-based violence
Marija Pejcinovic Buric considered "alarming" the recent statements by members of the Polish government on the intention of Warsaw to leave this treaty adopted in 2011 by the Council of Europe (which brings together 47 countries). This text known as the “Istanbul Convention” is the first supranational tool to set legally binding standards to prevent gender-based violence.
When it was ruled by a centrist coalition, Poland signed in 2012 and ratified this convention three years later.
A demonstration in Warsaw
The current Minister of Justice, Zbigniew Ziobro, considered it at the time as "an invention, a feminist creation which aims to justify gay ideology". He said on Saturday that he would present an official document on Monday asking the Family Ministry to prepare the denunciation of the treaty.
"If there are any misconceptions or misunderstandings about the convention, we are ready to clarify them through a constructive dialogue," suggested the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. On Friday, around two thousand people demonstrated in Warsaw to protest against this decision of the Polish government.
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- Istanbul
- Europe
- Poland
- Violence against women
- European Council