On May 11, it will be ten years since the Istanbul Convention was opened for signature. The convention is known worldwide as the most comprehensive and progressive instrument to prevent and combat gender-based violence.
To promote ratification and implementation of the convention, Flanders supports the multi-country program to end violence against women. Minister-president Jambon released 100,000 euros for this. The program also receives support from other member states of the Council of Europe.
Covid-19 and the lockdown have increased domestic violence in Europe. Despite this, Turkey recently announced its withdrawal from the treaty, a decision that Flanders regrets deeply. It would be the first time that a member state of the Council of Europe has withdrawn from a human rights treaty. Moreover, this convention was signed by president Erdogan in 2011 in the Turkish city of Istanbul and Turkey was the first country to have the convention ratified in parliament. A total of 33 other European countries have already ratified the convention, including Belgium. Hungary - incoming Chairman of the Committee of Ministers - and Bulgaria have signed but never ratified the convention. This division also prevents ratification by the European Commission, which approved this convention in 2017.
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