The Istanbul Convention becomes binding in the European Union on October 1

The Istanbul Convention enters into force in the European Union on Sunday 1 October and becomes binding on all European institutions and member states. A spokesperson for the European Commission said today, September 29, that although it has not been ratified at national level by several countries, including Bulgaria, the Convention is legally binding on all member states of the Community. He cited the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, according to which agreements concluded by the EU with international organisations are binding on member states and the Union's institutions.

The Istanbul Convention is a comprehensive legal framework aimed at protecting women against all forms of violence. It aims to prevent, prosecute and eradicate violence against women and domestic violence and to implement comprehensive and coordinated policies.

At the beginning of July, the EU finally adopted the Convention, thereby also obliging Member States to implement its measures.

"Violence against women is unacceptable in our democratic societies. One in three women has been a victim of physical or sexual violence. Too many do not report it. Too many perpetrators go unpunished. We must act, and the Istanbul Convention is our legal response to strengthen women's rights. We will continue to encourage Member States to take the necessary measures to prevent violence against women and to ensure effective protection and support for all victims," said Vice-President for Values and Transparency Věra Jourová.

"The entry into force of the Istanbul Convention is an important milestone for the EU. This gold standard recognises that violence against women constitutes a violation of their human rights. For all of us to live in a fair and just European Union, women and girls must be able to live without daily insecurity, fear and violence. The entry into force of the Convention is a historic event and a good step in this direction," said Helena Dalli, Equality Commissioner.

21 EU countries have ratified the Istanbul Convention at national level. 6 countries have not - Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia and Slovenia. In 2021, the EU Court of Justice ruled that the EU as a whole could ratify the Convention by qualified majority vote rather than unanimity because of the refusal of some countries to accept it.

In 2018, Bulgaria's Constitutional Court adopted a decision stating that the Istanbul Convention advocates legal concepts related to the concept of "gender” that are incompatible with fundamental principles of the Constitution of the Republic of Bulgaria.