The European Women’s Lobby strongly condemns Czechia’s decision not to ratify the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention, the most comprehensive international treaty to prevent and combat violence against women and domestic violence.
Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread human rights violations in Europe. Every woman and girl has the right to live free from violence, and every government has a responsibility to ensure effective prevention, protection, prosecution and coordinated public policies to make this a reality. The Istanbul Convention provides the legal and policy framework to achieve these objectives and has already driven important legislative and institutional reforms in many European countries.
At a time when women’s rights and gender equality are facing growing attacks across Europe, Czechia’s decision sends a deeply worrying political signal. Across the continent, organised anti-rights actors are spreading misinformation about the Convention, seeking to undermine internationally recognised human rights standards and weaken protections for women and girls. These narratives have been repeatedly disproven, yet they continue to delay progress towards ending male violence against women and girls.
The European Women’s Lobby calls on the Czech government and all political leaders to reconsider this decision and place the rights and safety of women and girls above ideological and political pressure. Ratifying and fully implementing the Istanbul Convention is not only a legal commitment, it is also a commitment to preventing violence, supporting survivors, ensuring accountability for perpetrators and building societies where women and girls can live free from fear.
The European Union has taken an important step by acceding to the Istanbul Convention, reaffirming that preventing and combating violence against women is a shared European responsibility. We urge all Council of Europe member states that have not yet ratified the Convention, or that have weakened their commitments to it, to uphold their obligations under international human rights law and strengthen, rather than undermine, protections for women and girls.
As the largest umbrella organisation of women’s associations in Europe, the European Women’s Lobby stands in solidarity with Czech women’s organisations and all civil society actors who continue to advocate for the full realisation of women’s human rights. We will continue to work with our members and partners across Europe to ensure that every woman and girl can live free from violence, discrimination and fear.
