Council of Europe Convention

The Council of the EU has announced that it has adopted a decision on the accession of the EU to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (the Istanbul Convention).

Violence against women continues to be a grave problem in Türkiye, as the number of femicides rose from 348 in 2021 to 381 last year, which means at least one woman fell victim to femicide every day last year alone, shows the data from the Federation of Women's Associations of Türkiye (TKDF).

The Council of State has upheld Türkiye's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, also known as the Council of Europe Convention, on preventing violence against women.

The Administrative Courts Board of the Council of State made the final decision in the case regarding Türkiye's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, while the board found the decision "in accordance with the law."

Sports should be recognized as a human right, Sports and Youth Minister Mehmet Muharrem Kasapoğlu has said, pointing out Türkiye's ongoing international fight against corruption in sports.

The Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings, GRETA, an independent monitoring group, said in a report for the Council of Europe published on Tuesday that Bosnia and Herzegovina's has improved legislation to combat human trafficking but it needs to be implemented more effectively to ensure protection and justice for victims.

Major Adrian Dinca, with the Romanian Gendarmerie, was elected chairman of the Council of Europe Convention on an Integrated Safety, Security and Service Approach at Football Matches and Other Sports Events (T-S4 Committee), for a period of two years, the Gendarmerie informs, in a press release sent to AGERPRES on Friday.

Turkey has rebuffed criticisms from the West over its decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, a pact designed to counter violence against women.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on March 21 that withdrawal from the convention should not be regarded as a concession on the fight against violence against women.

Turkey responded late on March 21 to international reactions following its decision to withdraw from a European treaty aimed at preventing and combating violence against women.

"The Republic of Turkey's withdrawal from the treaty should not be interpreted as compromising on combating violence against women," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

In the letter - leaked to BIRN and published below in its entirety for the first time - that was sent last year to at least four governments in the region (Croatia, Czechia, Slovakia and Slovenia), the Polish Justice Ministry sets out its vision over five pages for an alternative to the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, to giv

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) welcomes the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, reiterating its "firm" commitment to promoting and protecting women's rights, and to continuing the fight to eradicate all forms violence against women and girls.