The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence1 (hereinafter referred to as the Istanbul Convention/ Convention) is an international treaty aimed at preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. It aims for zero tolerance for such violence and is an important tool for making Europe and its surrounding areas safer.
Prevention of violence, protection of victims of violence, and accountability of perpetrators are the cornerstones of the Convention. It also aims to change the perception of individuals by urging all members of society to change their attitudes toward violence. In essence, the Convention is a new call to promote equality between women and men, as violence against women is deeply rooted in the inequality between women and men and has been perpetuated by a culture of intolerance and denial.
