Zelensky signed the law on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention/Volodymyr Zelensky
It should be noted that Ukraine signed this convention back in 2011, but did not ratify it earlier because of the protests of churches and some conservative politicians who for some reason convinced that the law on the prevention of violence against women and domestic violence allegedly “imposes gender ideology” .
Zelensky submitted to the Council a bill to ratify the Istanbul Convention on 18 June. The Verkhovna Rada supported him already on June 20 . And finally, the long-awaited bill was signed by the head of state.
Law on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention. Its main content is simple, but extremely important. It is an obligation to protect women from violence and all forms of discrimination. We share European values. For us, human life and health is the highest value,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.
What the Istanbul Convention provides for
Countries that sign the Istanbul Convention should criminalize psychological, physical and sexual violence, harassment, and forced abortion, sterilization, and marriage.
The main objectives of the Istanbul Convention:
- Protect women from all types of violence, and prevent and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence.
- Promote equal rights for men and women.
- Eliminate all forms of discrimination against women.
- Protect and help all victims of violence.
- Promote international cooperation against these types of violence.
- Assist organizations and law enforcement agencies in cooperation with each other to end violence against women and domestic violence.
The Convention refers to violence against women and domestic violence
- Violence against women includes: any physical, psychological, economic or sexual violence, harassment or claim.< /li>
- Domestic Violence is anything that, under duress or without the consent of one of the parties, occurs between partners or members of the same family without either of their consent. For example, forced sex, marriage, abortion, circumcision, sterilization).
Now all these actions are subject to criminal liability. The punishment will be more severe if the victims are relatives, partners, or if a child has witnessed the violence.
Currently, a number of articles of the Criminal Code are in force in Ukraine, but they are not described as broadly and in detail as in the Istanbul Convention. Without the ratification of the Istanbul Convention, full responsibility for all forms of violence is impossible. In particular, many offenders who commit psychological, economic, and even physical and sexual violence escape punishment.
By the way, the convention provides for the introduction or support of programs aimed at educating people who have committed domestic violence. The document also provides for the introduction or support of treatment programs aimed at preventing recidivism on the part of offenders, in particular those who have committed sexual crimes.
The full text of the Istanbul Convention can be read here.
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