protests erupted against Poland's withdrawal from domestic violence treaty

Polish government announced to quit the Istanbul Convention  on domestic violence against women 

Protests have erupted in Poland against conservative and right wing government’s decision to quit the treaty against domestic violence. Protesters have rallied across Poland after the government signaled it planned to withdraw from the Istanbul domestic violence convention. Some officials have said the pact could endanger the traditional family. Thousands of protestors mostly women turned to streets to show their anger against government decision.  The women rights activists fears that withdrawal from this treaty will endanger the women rights.

The rallies were triggered by a recent announcement by the minister for labor and social policy, Marlena Malag that Poland was preparing to leave the 2011 Istanbul Convention, known in full as the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence. Protests were also held in Gdansk, Katowice, Krakow, Lodz, Poznan and other cities, organizers said.

In the capital, Warsaw, a crowd of several hundred protesters gathered before the headquarters of Ordo Iuris, an ultra-conservative association that has campaigned against the convention and claims the document's only aim was to impose controversial ideologies about gender.

Poland ratified the convention in 2015, before the conservative Law and Justice party (PiS) took power. It is the only country in the so-called Vise grad Group to have ratified the pact, though Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary signed it in 2011 along with most other European states.

The UK also has still to ratify the convention, along with Latvia, Lithuania, Ukraine, Bulgaria, Armenia and Moldova. Russia has not signed it.

Last year, Poland backed down on plans to make the term domestic violence apply only when spouses are beaten more than once, after a draft bill published on a government website drew a storm of criticism.

The right-wing Polish government argues the Istanbul Convention does not respect religion and promotes controversial ideologies about gender. Human rights advocates say exiting the treaty would deal a major blow to women’s rights.

The Council of Europe (COE), a human rights organisation distinct from the European Union, called Poland’s intentions "alarming". Marija Pejčinović Burić, COE's secretary-general said in a statement that “if there are any misconceptions or misunderstandings about the convention, we are ready to clarify them in a constructive dialogue. Leaving the Istanbul Convention would be highly regrettable and a major step backwards in the protection of women against violence in Europe."

Another human rights expert Iverna McGowan based in Brussels said that “the convention on violence against women is one of the most comprehensive laws to combat violence against women in the world. "So this is really a very worrying signal that the government is sending that it does not wish to provide this protection for women's rights in Poland urging the European Union to put "serious pressure" on the country to stick to the convention.

If the European Union really wants to live up to its commitment to human rights and democracy, I feel that it's very important that we do make recipients' receipt of EU funds conditional on compliance with the rule of law and human rights. We need to get serious about human rights in Europe.  This is a concern not just for women in Poland; it's a question for women's rights everywhere."

Poland and Hungary have drawn the ire of Brussels in recent years over moves seen as undermining the independence of the judiciary, media freedom and the rights of LGBTQ people. The World Health Organization says domestic violence has surged this year in Europe during months of lockdown aimed at fighting the coronavirus.

Poland’s ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party and its coalition partners closely align themselves with the Catholic Church and promote a conservative social agenda. Hostility to gay rights was one of the main issues promoted by President Andrej Duda during a successful re-election campaign this month.

                                                                   Rukhsana Manzoor Deputy Editor