Istanbul convention and the latest approach to preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the study of the current model for combating and preventing violence against women and domestic violence, adopted and implemented in the framework of the Council of Europe through the prism of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). Therefore the purpose of the paper is to establish the content and components of the latest mechanism for preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, enshrined in the provisions of the Istanbul Convention, analysis of the standards embodied in the Convention in this area, their international legal significance and consequences of implementation in national law of Council of Europe member states. Author, among other things, states that Istanbul Convention is not only an international act aimed at consolidating the fundamental rights and guarantees of protection of women from all forms of violence and discrimination, but also seeks to institutionalize a system for preventing and combating violence against women, based on national, regional and international policies in these areas, offering organizational and legal mechanisms for assistance and cooperation in the international arena and in the context of ensuring the effectiveness of the functioning of the internal law enforcement agencies of the signatory states. It is concluded that the Istanbul Convention is unprecedented and systematic document of public international law in its objectives and scope, aimed at comprehensively preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence not only within the Council of Europe, but also at the European civilization level in general. Its adoption demonstrates the formation of the latest concept of protection of women's rights and the fight against violence and discrimination, based on the values of modern European society.