Istanbul Convention.

Introduction

Istanbul Convention is in news for two reasons. Firstly, in Turkey, women started a trend, #ChallengeAccepted, on a massive scale to curb the atrocities committed on them. In 2019, 474 women were killed despite Turkey's ratification of the treaty which is against femicide. Secondly, Poland has announced to leave this European treaty on violence against women. As the Justice Minister of Poland announced the departure from Istanbul Convention, women staged a massive protest across the Poland. Despite its members, Turkey and Poland are dying to leave this treaty.

                     So, what is Istanbul treaty? And why many countries in addition to Turkey and Poland are trying to leave it? Let's discuss!

Europe and Protection of women against violence:

Since 1990s, Council of Europe, headquarted in Strasbourg, commenced myriad numbers of initiatives to protect women from violence. Although the organisation has been criticised for its red tapism and bureaucratic delays, its most significant work is passing of this treaty 

Note: Council of Europe has nothing to do with European Union. They both are separate organisations. 

                          It has been trying to set legal standards to punish the culprits involved in violence against women.

47 member countries 

The Convention:

Its official name is Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. 

It is commonly referred as Istanbul Convention. And it was opened for signature on May 11, 2011.

Uptill now, 34 countries have signed and ratified this Convention. Surprisingly, Turkey was the first country to ratify this treaty. This treaty came into force on August 1, 2014. When European Union signed it in 2017, this was its culminating point.

Yellow:Signed but not ratified. (12 countries) 
Green:Signed and ratified 
Red: Refused to be part of treaty. 

All these 12 countries are from central and Eastern Europe except United Kingdom. 

They refused to ratify because they follow Eastern Orthodox Church. 

Significance of the Treaty:

Istanbul Convention is first-ever legally binding set of guidelines that create "a comprehensive legal framework and approach to combat violence against women and is focused on preventing domestic violence, protecting victims, and prosecuting accused offenders"

It also states that violence against women is violation of human rights and a form of discrimination. This Convention does outline which acts must be criminalized.

Such offences include

1. Psychological violence.

2. Stalking.

3. Physical violence.

4. Sexual violence, including rape.

5. Forced marriage.

6. Female genital mutilation.

7. Forced abortion and forced sterilisation.
Sexual harassment.

Criticism on Istanbul Convention:

According to many countries, the treaty defines "Gender" as "socially constructed" and did not pay heed to biological part. They fear the inclusion of third gender into the list. Because many conservative countries do not believe in the rights of third gender. Astonishingly, there is no explict mention of transgenders in Istanbul Convention. 

           

                       Other criticism to this treaty are that this treaty promotes LGBT and Gay rights. And it poses  a danger toward Christianity and Islam.