Ukraine has ratified the Istanbul Convention

The Istanbul Convention is the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, which aims to prevent violence, protect and support victims, and bring perpetrators to justice.

Ukraine signed this convention in 2011. On June 20, 2022, the Parliament (Verkhovna Rada) ratified the Istanbul Convention with 259 people’s deputies’ votes. This is a significant step forward for the implementation of the Association Agreement with the EU and the development of Ukraine’s European future.

This international instrument contains mechanisms for the protection of victims of gender-based violence and protects the rights of women and men who are victims of it.

Ratification of the Convention provides the application of international human rights monitoring mechanisms in the fight against domestic violence. In addition, the ratification of the convention gives Ukraine the right to demand accountability for perpetrators who attack Ukrainian citizens abroad.

The Convention complements existing national legislation and brings it closer to the standards and best practices of the Council of Europe member states.

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