The Istanbul Convention is the most far reaching human rights instrument addressing violence against women and domestic violence. The treaty defines many forms of gender-based violence against women and it aims to prevent and combat these forms of violence across Europe and beyond. 

As Ukraine observes one year of the Istanbul Convention in force, there's a need to reflect upon the terminology and definitions used in the convention and to link them to the convention’s purpose. For example, the convention carefully distinguishes between "gender-based violence" and "violence against women". But why? The Council of Europe has analysed the difference between two common terms, which are often used interchangeably. 

The brief, “The significance of Terminology: Gender based violence against Women” helps to clarify the use of the terms to Ukrainian stakeholders, where “gender based violence” is predominately being used, and explain why the Istanbul Convention prefers the term “violence against women”.

The publication was developed under the Council of Europe project “Combating violence against women in Ukraine – Phase II” (COVAW-II).

 Brief: The significance of terminology: Gender-based violence against women

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