The Council of Europe welcomes the approval of the Istanbul Convention by the Ukrainian Parliament
The Parliament of Ukraine ratified on Monday the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, also known as the Istanbul Convention.
The vice president of the Parliament’s Finance, Tax and Customs Commission, Yaroslav Zhelezniak, has confirmed the information in a message broadcast through Telegram.
"Parliament has supported the ratification of the Istanbul Convention for prevent violence against women", The politician has indicated, who has clarified that the measure has been adopted with 259 votes in favor and eight against.
The draft law to ratify the agreement was introduced by the president, Volodimir Zelensky, and is designed to implement the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the EU in order to prevent and combat sexist violence. Ukraine signed the convention in November 2011, but had not ratified it.
The NGO Amnesty International has applauded the decision and has underlined that it is a "historic victory for women’s rights". The organization’s general secretary, Angès Callamard, has pointed out that it also constitutes a "contribution to change in the culture, attitudes and behaviors that perpetuate gender-based violence".
"Today’s vote follows years of campaigning by survivors who have helped ensure that other women don’t have to go through what they went through."he has asserted.
In this sense, he pointed out that the ratification of the agreement is a "a decisive step in the fight against this type of violence and implies a change in institutional procedures and current legislation, which will improve security and justice".
"This decision could not have come at a better time, just as there are allegations of sexual violence against Ukrainian women in territories occupied by Russian forces. Its implementation must help Ukraine deal with these atrocities and serve to assure victims that they can trust in justice."he has stated.
Likewise, the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Marija Pejcinovic Buric, welcomed the initiative and stressed that it is "a major step forward in protecting women and girls from all forms of violence, either in Ukraine or abroad".
"I congratulate President Zelensky, Deputy Prime Minister Stefanishina, the members of the Verkhovna Rada (parliament), in particular Mezentseva, head of the delegation in our Parliamentary Assembly, for once again showing leadership and courage, and for following up on our previous discussions on this topic"has explained.
The Istanbul Convention on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence revolves around four axes –prevention, protection, criminal prosecution and policy coordination– and has served as a basis for legislative improvement in the countries that have adhered to it .