A joint media-briefing organised by the inter-faction deputies association (hereinafter referred to as the “IFDA”) “Euroatlantic Space for Ukraine” and “Equal Opportunities Caucus” in co-operation with the representatives of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) took place in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (VRU) on 16 June 2016.
Maria Ionova, Member of the Verkhovna Rada, Deputy Head of the Parliamentary Committee on European Integration, presented the media briefing’s participants from both sides, PACE and VRU. She highlighted the great need for Ukraine to ratify the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention, naming it as one of the most important international commitments of Ukraine on its way to the European integration. Ms Ionova added that the Convention is the most far-reaching international treaty to tackle violence against women and domestic violence and its ratification began to be even more pertinent in light of the conflict in the East of the country.
Béatrice Fresko-Rolfo, Member of the Parliament of Monaco, Member of the Parliamentary Network Women free from Violence, stated that the ratification of the Istanbul Convention lays the basis for strengthened action on combating violence against women and domestic violence. She added that it is highly important to ensure and protect human rights against the background of a military conflict in Eastern Ukraine.
Saša Magazinović, Member of the Parliament of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Member of the Parliamentary Network Women Free from Violence, shared the experience of Bosnia and Herzegovina, where a 5-year military conflict ignited a spate of violence against women and children. He explained that this problem had been hushed up for many years when, upon public disclosure of a number of victims, the need for ratification of the Istanbul Convention was clearly recognised.
Iryna Fiz, Member of the Verkhovna Rada, Head of the Parliamentary Subcommittee on Security of Government Information System, Committee of National Security and Defence, highlighted that the Parliament shall fulfill its social commitment by ensuring prevention of violence and protection of victims. Iryna Lutsenko, Member of the Verkhovna Rada, Head of the Parliamentary Subcommittee on International Law Issues and on Monitoring the Honouring of Ukraine’s International Obligations, outlined the situation in Ukraine and stressed the reasons why Ukraine needs to ratify and implement the Istanbul Convention. In 2015, 165 thousand reports on domestic violence were filed to law enforcement authorities, thousands of women died and millions of children witnessed abuse. Escaping from aggressors, victims of violence often involuntarily leave their houses and end up in the street. People’s deputies thanked the Council of Europe and the Swedish Parliament for their long-term support in the preparation for the Istanbul Convention ratification.
In conclusion, Iryna Herashchenko, Member of the Verkhovna Rada, First Deputy Chairman of the Parliament of Ukraine, claimed that the ratification of the Istanbul Convention is a highly important international commitment of Ukraine on its way to the European integration. The First Deputy Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada expressed conviction that the representatives of Ukrainian people will support the ratification. She added that Ukraine signed the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (Istanbul Convention) in 2011. The next step in the implementation of defined international commitment is the ratification of the Istanbul Convention by the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine and the approval of relevant amendments to the current legislation. In this regard, Ms Heraschenko announced that Ukraine will ratify the Istanbul Convention by October 2016 at the latest.
Link to the video of the event
