17/05/2021

With the increased risk of violence brought by the Covid-19 crisis and the intention of some countries to undermine the key role of the Istanbul Convention, women and girls in Europe are facing increasing threats to their safety. The European Women’s Lobby calls attention to the Treaty’s crucial role in protecting women and girls from male violence.

Marking the 10th anniversary this month, the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, has recently made it to the headlines of international news, after President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s decision to withdraw Turkey from the Convention. Poland also followed suit, with threats that the country would also withdraw from the Convention.

This Council of Europe treaty is the most comprehensive legal tool to date in Europe that fully tackles violence against women and girls. It was thus an international shock to see that some countries are going in the direction of a roll-back on women’s rights, instead. And even more so against the background of an alarming surge of male violence against women and girls due to the Covid-19 crisis.

Having always been committed to eliminating all forms of male violence against women and girls and condemning, the European Women’s Lobby (EWL) and its Observatory on Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) have recently released a new report focusing on the Istanbul Convention, looking into the state of play of its implementation and impact.

Our timely analysis details the achievements made to date across the 23 countries that have ratified the treaty, underlining the Convention’s key role in fostering positive changes across the prevention, prosecution, and protection measures to combat violence against women and girls. For example, 19 out of 23 countries examined (83 per cent) have improved protection services for women victims of violence and victims of domestic violence, and in 15 out of 23 countries analysed (65 per cent), improvements in investigations and prosecution are already visible.

Yet, the reality remains that persisting structural inequalities between women and men continue to prevent the full elimination of violence against women and girls. This includes the political blockage within the EU Council preventing EU accession to the Istanbul Convention, and the active backlash against women’s and girl’s rights as recently seen in Poland and Turkey. 

At EWL, we think that concerted action is urgently needed at all levels to ensure an intersectional, gender-sensitive approach to all laws, policies, and budgets. This must recognise the links between sexism and violence against women and girls.

The ‘sofagate’ diplomatic incident has reminded the world recently, how deeply sexism still is rooted in our societies, even for women in top positions of leadership as the European Commission’s President Ursula Von der Leyen. It is therefore crucial to recognise that sexism and gender stereotypes lie at the basis of the continuum of violence against women and girls.

It is also paramount to acknowledge the multiple forms of discrimination that exacerbate this risk of violence. In particular, the experiences of women and girls with disabilities, migrant women who are exposed to this should inspire a thorough and comprehensive approach to violence against women in all its forms.

Furthermore, while the cases of violence against women surged alarmingly during the Covid-19 crisis, EWL recognises that with the political backlash against the Istanbul Convention, there is a lack of any other legal instrument at EU level that holistically ensures the elimination of all forms of violence against women and girls across member states. As such, to complement the provisions in the Istanbul Convention, we call for an EU Directive to combat and eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls, including sexual exploitation and online violence against women and girls. 

Opposition to the Convention is opposition to EU fundamental values, including women’s human rights, and our right to live our lives free from violence. Civil society, together with decision-makers need to be loud and united in calling for strong action to counter dangerous misogynist tendencies and promote the values of equality and democracy.

Now is the time to fully implement and champion the standards of the Istanbul Convention everywhere in Europe without reservation to ensure the eradication of male violence against women and girls and its root causes during the Covid-19 crisis, and beyond.

Photo credits: Shutterstock

Find all related publications
Publications
05/03/2024

A European feminist foreign policy?

The need for a progressive and transformative approach
19/02/2024

Women CSO leaders for systemic change

How to support feminist leadership in Europe
12/02/2024

The Social Pillar and the future of the EU Social Agenda

01/02/2024

Bridging the gender pay gap in the Western Balkans?

A country case study of Croatia, North Macedonia, Serbia and Slovenia
Find all related events
Events
Upcoming
04 - 05/04/2024
Portimão, Portugal

#ProgressivesSpeakUp 2024

School of young politicians on housing
Past
08/03/2024
Budapest, Hungary

How to pursue gender equality in the context of right wing, authoritarian regimes?

The cases of Hungary and Serbia
23/02/2024
Barcelona, Spain

Accelerating progress

Towards a feminist future of work, without violence against women and from a European perspective
Find all related news
News
18/03/2024

FEPS President on Euronews talk-show ‘Brussels, my love?’

NATO extension, Portuguese elections, far-right and gender equality were the topics of the debate
08/03/2024

Discover the updated EU Care Atlas!

07/03/2024

Call for videos – Your Call to Europe

This call closed on 24/03/2024
23/01/2024

Call for tender – FFP Research and network coordinator

This call for tender is now closed.
Find all related in the media
In the media

FEPS President on Euronews talk-show ‘Brussels, my love?’

by Euronews 16/03/2024
FEPS President Maria João Rodrigues discusses NATO expansions and elections in Russia and Portugal on Euronews talk-show ‘Brussels, my love?‘

Une réforme de l’UE qui intéressera forcément les Suisses

by Le Temps 24/11/2023
'EU reform bound to be of interest to the Swiss', an opinion piece in Le Temps on EU Treaties changes by Maria João Rodrigues, FEPS President, Guillaume Klossa, Director of think tank EuropaNova and Daniela Schwarzer, Executive board member Bertelsmann Stiftung

« Le moment est venu de lancer un débat sur la réforme de l’Union européenne »

by Le Monde 22/11/2023
'The time has come to launch a debate on the reform of the European Union', an opinion piece in Le Monde on Eu Treaties changes by Maria João Rodrigues, FEPS President, Guillaume Klossa, Director of think tank EuropaNova and Daniela Schwarzer, Executive board member Bertelsmann Stiftung

Socialistas europeos reclaman que la Europa social sea la prioridad de la futura Comisión

by EuroEFE 09/11/2023
'European socialists demand that social Europe be the priority for the future Commission' article about the 'Champions of progress: Progressives go the extra mile for Social Europe!' side event organized by FEPS and PES