On the 24th of November 2020,Att. Denitsa Lyubenova from Deystvie will be a speaker in the online event BACKLACK AGAINST WOMEN’S RIGHTS: THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION UNDER THREAT. The event will begin at 19:00 and can be watched for free here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81802681439
The setting
The occasion of the event is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. Statistics show that one in every three women in the EU is a victim of physical or psychological violence. During the COVID-19 pandemic, domestic violence against women has increased significantly all over the world.
The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention) defines legally binding standards for combatting gender-based violence.
Despite all this, Poland and Turkey are threatening to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention while many other European countries are still expected to join. This intention of the two countries sparked a wave of protests from women activists throughout Europe.
Meanwhile in Poland, hundreds of thousands took to the streets in response to the almost complete ban on abortion in the country. During the event, we will discuss with experts and activists from Poland, Turkey, Bulgaria and Germany what the withdrawal and non-ratification of the Istanbul Convention would mean for women’s rights, the LGBTI community’s rights and the upholding of the rule of law in Europe. How and why do populist governments use the Convention and its definition of gender?
Before the discussion, a short video on the promotion of the subject of violence against women in Europe and the protection of their rights will be shown.