WOMEN’S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS: A DECADE OF THE COUNCIL OF EUROPE ISTANBUL CONVENTION

Abstract

The paper's aim is to make theoretical overview on the importance and of the one decade implementation by the
states of the Istanbul Convention, or the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against
Women and Domestic Violence, that was adopted in 2011. The Istanbul Convention is a guarantee for women's and human
rights. The Convention focuses on the elimination of violence against women, it encourages governments to implement
protections in cases of gender, race, sexual orientation, and age-based violence and discrimination. This treaty, as well seeks
to address gender-based violence in all its various forms. Member states are expected to amend their laws to define and
criminalize violence against women and children, provide public education, and protect victims by establishing strong
support services, in line with international standards. Therefore, the authors focus is to present the importance and the first
decade of the Council of Europe Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic
violence, as well as Poland’s and Turkey’s withdrawal from Istanbul Convention. Also, the paper will present Macedonian
case of implementation of the Convention. At the end conclusions of the date analyses and recommendations for the future
will be given.