On June 20, it is to be considered at a parliamentary session. Ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Violence against Women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Convention , is an issue that is not just overdue in Ukraine, but has already matured and needed to be addressed immediately. Therefore, President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced a bill on its ratification in the Verkhovna Rada.
The Convention proposes to establish criminal liability for violence against women and to define penalties. Currently, a number of articles of the Criminal Code are in force in Ukraine, but they are not so widely and in detail. The document also provides mechanisms to protect both women and men who have been subjected to domestic violence.
Ratification of the Istanbul Convention will allow Council of Europe experts to monitor Ukraine's compliance with its commitments. In turn, Ukraine will be able to demand increased responsibility for the perpetrators of Ukrainian citizens abroad, as well as the prosecution of Ukrainian perpetrators hiding abroad.
The Istanbul Protocol contains recommendations for effective medical, legal, psychological and psychiatric treatment of the effects of torture, ill-treatment or degrading treatment. This protocol also provides a detailed description of codes of ethics in relevant areas.
Read also: Archbishop Shevchuk on the Istanbul Convention: “Domestic violence cannot be eliminated implementation of a separate social project “
Ukraine has participated in the drafting of the Istanbul Convention against Violence, but has not yet ratified it. The All-Ukrainian Council of Churches and some MPs have systematically opposed ratification, arguing that the convention “imposes a gender ideology.”
“The Istanbul Convention is not about “promoting homosexuality and same-sex marriage”, it is not about “threatening traditional values,” wrote Halyna Skipalska, executive director of the Ukrainian Public Health Foundation and director of the HealthRight International Office in Ukraine, on her Facebook page. The Istanbul Convention is about the prevention of all forms of violence against women and equality between women and men.
This is an extremely important document! cannot feel completely protected and equal. Without him, full responsibility for all forms of violence (psychological, physical, sexual and economic) is impossible.
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Read also: Ukraine ratifies the Istanbul Convention in 2022 – Stefanishina
Ukraine has been unable to ratify the Istanbul Convention in 10 years – a document that leads to a life free from violence. The EU has repeatedly called on Ukraine to ratify the Istanbul Convention. During this time, our country has changed 3.5 presidents and 4 convocations of the Verkhovna Rada, who did not find the courage to protect their own citizens from violence.
European Union Delegation and the Council of Europe Office in Ukraine called on the Ukrainian authorities to implement all provisions of the current legislation, strengthen the system of measures and response to domestic violence, strengthen capacity building on these issues and end negative attitudes towards these issues among government officials. It remains to be seen how many perpetrators will go unpunished and victims without a chance to make amends. Read more in the article Olena Podolyan “ Union of Violence and the System” for ZN.UA.
About the measures taken by the state against domestic violence, and If everything works as it should, read the article Olga Chekis “ Such” domestic “violence: how not to beat” .
