International Planned Parenthood Head urges EU to sign Istanbul Convention
(Friday 12 April 2013) By signing and ratifying the Istanbul Convention, the EU would send a strong political message to step up efforts to end violence against women and overcome inequality, writes Tewodros Melesse director general of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF) in an article published today on Euractiv.com.
“Let’s start with some of the things you may take for granted. Freedom to walk on the streets, marry who you want to, protect your body and be safe? Seriously, how would you feel if you were chatting away to your female friend on the bus and a group of men started attacking her?
If you were married and your husband didn’t allow you to choose when to have sex or become pregnant? We would say that this is unacceptable, wouldn’t happen or that I’m being ridiculous.
The sad fact is that it’s often been in the news. But these issues are not just for the campaigners, charities or just for women and girls. It’s for all of us. This is about protecting our wives, daughters, sisters and mothers liberties, freedoms and rights.”
The full article can be found here.
The Istanbul Convention on the Elimination of Violence against Women is available here.
