“For years, the Hungarian authorities have targeted transgender people and those seeking safety as they sought to roll back human rights. The decisions today from European Court of Human Rights and the EU Court of Justice, which state unequivocally that the government has violated the rights of transgender people and those seeking safety, are a welcome development.

Dávid Vig, Director of Amnesty International Hungary

“Today’s decision from the European Court of Human Rights sends a crucial message to both transgender people in Hungary and the government that the fight for an effective and accessible procedure for legal gender recognition is far from over. The government must urgently end its hateful campaign against LGBTI people — and guarantee equal rights for everyone in Hungary.”

“EU law provides for people’s right to seek asylum. It is as ridiculous as it is unworkable that the Hungarian authorities have asked people seeking safety to request permission from abroad before entering the country. By forcing asylum seekers arriving in Hungary to travel to its embassies in Serbia and Ukraine to request permission to enter, the country has violated EU asylum law, which states that asylum procedures must be ‘effective, easy and rapid’.”

Background

In the decision concerning legal gender recognition in Hungary, the European Court of Human Rights examined the legal environment before May 2020, when the Hungarian parliamentary majority adopted a law that required individuals’ sex to be recorded at birth in the national registry of birth, marriages and deaths — and this could not be changed at a later date. The law restricts transgender people from registering their names and obtaining associated documents in accordance with their gender identity. 

Amnesty International gathered more than 100,000 signatures in 2020 to support transgender people in Hungary. The Court found that by not providing an adequate procedure for legal gender recognition, Hungary violated the right to private life, which led to long-term mental health consequences for applicants. The Court reiterated that Member States have an obligation to ensure effective and accessible procedures for transgender people to change their gender/ sex marker.

In April 2022, the Hungarian government organized a national referendum to support a law banning the “portrayal and promotion of homosexuality and sex change” in schools and in the media. In response, Amnesty International Hungary, Háttér Society, and 12 civil society organizations mobilized more than 1,7 million people and rendered the referendum invalid.

For more information, please contact:

+44 20 7413 5566 @amnestypress

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The revelations come as part of the Pegasus Project, a ground-breaking collaboration by more than 80 journalists from 17 media organizations in 10 countries coordinated by Forbidden Stories, a Paris-based media non-profit. Amnesty International provided technical support, carrying out cutting- edge forensic tests on mobile phones to identify traces of NSO Group spyware.

“The Hungarian government should immediately provide a meaningful response to this latest revelation by the Pegasus Project and clarify whether it knew about or approved the covert surveillance of journalists, businessmen and others. If Hungarian authorities did know about these violations, they must explain on what basis they allowed them,” said Dávid Vig, Director of Amnesty Hungary.

The Hungarian government should immediately provide a meaningful response to this latest revelation by the Pegasus Project and clarify whether it knew about or approved the covert surveillance of journalists, businessmen and others

Dávid Vig, Director of Amnesty International Hungary

“Hungary’s surveillance practices have long been a matter of concern. The National Security Services Act allows for secret surveillance without any independent external oversight, and this investigation demonstrates the urgent need for reform. The Hungarian government must introduce regulations that comply with international standards, and which provide safeguards against uncontrolled collection and potential misuse of personal data.

“NSO Group can no longer hide behind the claim that its spyware is only used to fight crime – there is overwhelming and growing evidence that Pegasus is being systematically used for repression and abuse.  We call on NSO Group to immediately stop selling its equipment to countries with a track record of putting human right defenders and journalists under unlawful surveillance.

“The surveillance industry is out of control. States must implement a global moratorium on the sale, transfer and use of surveillance equipment, until a human rights framework is in place.”

Background

NSO Group’s spyware has been used to facilitate human rights violations around the world on a massive scale, according to a major investigation into the leak of 50,000 phone numbers of potential surveillance targets. These include heads of state, activists and journalists, including Jamal Khashoggi’s family.

Israeli surveillance giant NSO Group has been bankrolled by major private equity firms Novalpina Capital and Francisco Partners, with numerous investors behind them. Pension firms in the UK and US also have a stake in the rights abusing company.

The European Court of Human Rights ruled in 2016 in the case of Szabó and Vissy v. Hungary that Hungarian legislation does not provide sufficient safeguards against abuse and violates the right to privacy and family life. The Court found that the surveillance measures could affect virtually anyone in Hungary, as the government is technologically enabled to intercept massive amounts of data which may belong to individuals not related to a particular investigation.

According to the Court, any case for surveillance should be subject to review by a body independent of the government. Currently, the Ministry of Justice is empowered to authorize surveillance and data gathering, without the need for external assessment of whether interception of communications was strictly necessary.

The post Hungary: The government must provide a meaningful response to the Pegasus scandal appeared first on Amnesty International.

“This is a dark day for LGBTI rights and for Hungary. Like the infamous Russian ”propaganda law” this new legislation will further stigmatise LGBTI people and their allies. It will expose people already facing a hostile environment to even greater discrimination.

Yesterday, more than 10,000 people flooded the streets of Budapest to protest against these hateful amendments and show solidarity with the LGBTI community. But solidarity alone will not be enough

David Vig, Amnesty International Hungary

“Tagging these amendments to a bill that seeks to crack down on child abuse appears to be a deliberate attempt by the Hungarian government to conflate paedophilia with LGBTI people.

“Yesterday, more than 10,000 people flooded the streets of Budapest to protest against these hateful amendments and show solidarity with the LGBTI community. But solidarity alone will not be enough.

The EU and its member states must take urgent steps by raising this issue at the next General Affairs Meeting in the Council and ensuring that the EU is a safe place for LGBTI people

David Vig, Amnesty International Hungary

“The EU and its member states must take urgent steps by raising this issue at the next General Affairs Meeting in the Council and ensuring that the EU is a safe place for LGBTI people.”

https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2021/06/hungary-proposed-law-a-new-full-frontal-attack-against-lgbti-people/

Background

On Monday more than 10,000 people demonstrated in front of the Hungarian Parliament in a protest organised by Amnesty International Hungary altogether with other organisations.

On the 22 June, the EU General Affairs Council will hold its next hearing regading the Article 7 procedure against Hungary and Poland.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:  

Aron Demeter demeter.aron@amnesty.hu +36 70 940 1043 

Amnesty International press office, press@amnesty.org

The post Hungary: Dark day for LGBTI rights as homophobic and transphobic law adopted appeared first on Amnesty International.

These proposals, which have dark echoes of Russia’s anti-gay “propaganda law”, will further stigmatize LGBTI people, exposing them to greater discrimination in what is already a hostile environment

David Vig, Amnesty International Hungary

“These proposals, which have dark echoes of Russia’s anti-gay “propaganda law”, will further stigmatize LGBTI people, exposing them to greater discrimination in what is already a hostile environment for those who are LGBTI or perceived to be so.

“Tagging these amendments to a bill that seeks to crack down on child abuse appears to be a deliberate attempt by the Hungarian government to conflate paedophilia with LGBTI people.

That this should happen just after Hungary took over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe shows how brazen Orban’s government has become in using hateful populism to target minorities

David Vig, Amnesty International Hungary

“That this should happen just weeks after Hungary took over the Presidency of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe shows how brazen Viktor Orban’s government has become in using hateful populism to target minorities. The EU and its member states must demand that the Hungarian authorities remove these amendments from the bill before it goes to vote on 15 June.”

Background

The amendments require that all media content that “propagates homosexuality or portrays it” shall not be shown to children under 18, and commercials that show “diversion from one’s biological sex, change of gender, propagates or portrays homosexuality” shall not be made accessible to under-18s.

The amendments also require that TV and radio commercials that show “diversion from one’s biological sex, change of gender, propagates or portrays homosexuality” may only be shown between 10pm and 5am. Violators of this regulation could be fined, or have their broadcasting suspended.

The proposal also requires that human rights education courses in schools on ”sexual orientation” may only be held if they respect Hungary’s “constitutional identity” and its Christian culture and as long as they do not propagate consensual same-sex conduct or the affirming of one’s gender.

The bill is scheduled to be voted on and adopted on 15 June.

See here for further information.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:  

Aron Demeter demeter.aron@amnesty.hu or Amnesty International press office, press@amnesty.org 

The post Hungary: Proposed law a new frontal attack against LGBTI people appeared first on Amnesty International.

The Hungarian Parliament today has finally repealed ‘LexNGO’ from 2017, the law that stigmatized and hindered the work of civil society in Hungary. Worryingly, at the same time it introduced new measures that threaten the work of the NGOs. Responding to today’s development, the Director of Amnesty International Hungary, Dávid Vig, said: 

”Today is a big day because we have proven that through resilience and perseverance we can make a difference. We have fought against the smear campaigns for years together with other NGOs in Hungary, and finally today we witness the withdrawal of the law that should have never been adopted at the first place.

The withdrawal comes more than 10 months after the European Court of Justice’s ECJ decision that he Hungarian NGO law breached European Union laws on the freedom movement of capital as well as fundamental EU right on the respect of private life, protection of data and freedom of association.

”Unfortunately we cannot sit back: the new measures pose a fresh challenge. We are worried that the newly introduced amendments could empower the State Audit Office to selectively audit certain NGOs and impose an unnecessary administrative burden on them to make their work as difficult as possible. We are particularly worried that those will be imposed on NGOs who are critical of the government.

“NGOs in Hungary are already required to operate transparently, so we are afraid that this is a new attempt to stigmatize and crush critical organisations.We are still committed to fight against any law or measure that endangers the essential work of civil society and call on the government to guarantee an environment where NGOs can freely and independently carry out their essential work.” 

Background

The law, which was submitted and adopted without any prior consultation, requires the State Audit Office to annually report on the financial status of NGOs which ’influence the public’ and potentially empowers the authority to selectively audit them. The law also discriminates against specific NGOs, as religious, sport and national minority organisations are exempt.

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:  
Amnesty International press office on press@amnesty.org +32 2 548 27 73 or +32 483 680 812   

Or Aron Demeter demeter.aron@amnesty.hu +36 70 940 1043 

Out of hours contact details  
+44 (0) 20 7413 5566   
email: press@amnesty.org    
twitter: @amnestypress    

HUNGARY: living under the Sword of Damocles – the impact of the LexNGO on civil society in Hungary (Amnesty International statement)

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The climate crisis does not respect borders and our laws and policies must reflect this

Ashfaq Khalfan, Amnesty International's Law and Policy Director.

The Court will decide on whether it agrees to proceed with the case filed not only against Portugal, where the applicants live, but also 32 other countries – which comprise of EU members as well as Norway, Russia, Turkey, Switzerland, UK and Ukraine.

“The climate crisis does not respect borders and our laws and policies must reflect this. To ensure justice for people most affected by heatwaves, drought and forest fires – particularly children – states must be required to tackle climate change and its impacts at home and abroad,” said Ashfaq Khalfan, Amnesty’s Law and Policy Director.

“Governments can no longer act as if people outside their borders do not matter when they design their climate policies.”

The crowdfunded case, Duarte Agostinho and others v. Portugal and others, in which the group is intervening, has been brought by six youth from Portugal who are accusing 33 European countries of violating their human rights, including their right to life, by not taking adequate steps to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

To ensure justice for people most affected by heatwaves, drought and forest fires states must be required to tackle climate change and its impacts at home and abroad

Amnesty International

“Those affected by climate change should be allowed to make claims against governments other than their own. If governments are only required to act on the rights of people living within their borders, it is easier for them to ignore the impacts on people in the most affected countries and be more lethargic in their work to reduce greenhouse gas emissions” said Professor Mark Gibney, of the University of North Carolina Asheville.

If allowed to proceed, the case could set an important precedent, clearing the way for other climate lawsuits based on human rights arguments.

“This case is also important to ensure governments are required to design climate policy in a way that recognises the particular climate risks to children and take the ambitious climate protection measures needed to protect their rights,” said Gamze Erdem Türkelli, of the University of Antwerp. 

For more information contact Ashfaq Khalfan, Twitter: @ashfaqkhalfan

Gamze Erdem Türkelli, Twitter: @GamzeErdmTrklli

Amnesty International press office: Twitter @StefSimanowitz

For more details about the intervention, see:https://www.etoconsortium.org/en/news/news/first-climate-change-case-at-the-european-court-of-human-rights-justice-must-not-stop-at-borders-182/ . The submission is available here.

For more information on the case, see http://hudoc.echr.coe.int/eng?i=001-206535 and https://youth4climatejustice.org/the-case/.

BACKGROUND

The six applicants in this case, Cláudia Agostinho (21), Catarina Mota (20), Martim Agostinho (17), Sofia Oliveira (15), André Oliveira (12) and Mariana Agostinho (8), are suing the 27 European Union member states, as well as the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine for failing to make deep and urgent emissions cuts to safeguard their future.

The group intervening today as a third party in the case is made up of members of the Extraterritorial Obligations Consortium which advocates for rights beyond borders.

It includes: Amnesty International; the Center for Legal and Social Studies (CELS); the Center for Transnational Environmental Accountability (CTEA); the Economic and Social Rights Centre (Hakijamii); FIAN International; the Great Lakes Initiative for Human Rights and Development (GLIHD); the University of Antwerp Law and Development Research Group; Prof. Dr. Mark Gibney; Dr. Gamze Erdem Turkelli; Dr. Sara Seck; Prof. Dr. Sigrun Skogly; Dr. Nicolas Carrillo-Santarelli; Prof. Dr. Jernej Letnar Cernic; Tom Mulisa; Dr. Nicholas Orago; Prof. Dr. Wouter Vandenhole; and Jingjing Zhang

The post Europe: “Climate justice must not stop at borders” human rights organizations tell ECHR in landmark case appeared first on Amnesty International.

The Hungarian government has announced that it will repeal ‘LexNGO’, a dangerous law which stigmatizes and places restrictions on the independent work of non-governmental organizations (NGOs).  In February the European Commission launched an infringement procedure against Hungary, after finding that the Act breached EU law. Responding to the announcement, the Director of Amnesty International Hungary, Dávid Vig, said:

“The LexNGO law was a dangerous tool of Orban’s government, designed to silence independent NGOs which do vital work to hold the authorities to account and support vulnerable groups. It restricted their work on baseless grounds which were undoubtedly politically motivated.”

Director of Amnesty International Hungary, Dávid Vig

“While we welcome its withdrawal, we can’t drop our guard yet. The Hungarian government has already submitted a proposal to replace LexNGO with another bill which also threatens the independence and work of civil society. The new bill, which was submitted without any prior consultation, requires the State Audit Office to annually report on the financial status of NGOs which ’influence the public’ and potentially empowers the authorities to selectively audit them. This would impose an additional, unnecessary administrative burden on NGOs, and is clearly another attempt by the Hungarian government to make their work as difficult as possible.”

“The bill also discriminates against specific NGOs, as religious, sport and national minority organisations would be exempt. NGOs in Hungary are already required to operate transparently – this bill is just a new repressive tool for the government to further stigmatize and crush critical organisations.

“Amnesty International calls on the Hungarian authorities to ensure a meaningful consultation with NGOs before moving forward with new legislation, and ensure their feedback is taken into account. The authorities must end their crackdown on civil society, We call on the government to refrain from restricting and stigmatizing NGOs, and to guarantee an environment where they can freely and independently carry out their essential work without any fear of reprisals.”

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact: 
Amnesty International press office on press@amnesty.org +32 2 548 27 73 or +32 483 680 812  

Or Aron Demeter demeter.aron@amnesty.hu +36 70 940 1043

Out of hours contact details 
+44 (0) 20 7413 5566  
email: press@amnesty.org   
twitter: @amnestypress   

HUNGARY: living under the Sword of Damocles – the impact of the LexNGO on civil society in Hungary (Amnesty International statement)

The post Hungary: LexNGO repealed but replacement very concerning appeared first on Amnesty International.

These discriminatory, homophobic and transphobic new laws are just the latest attack on LGBTQ people by Hungarian authorities

David Vig, Amnesty International

David Vig, Director of Amnesty Hungary, said:

“This is a dark day for Hungary’s LGBTQ community and a dark day for human rights. These discriminatory, homophobic and transphobic new laws – rushed through under the cover of the coronavirus pandemic – are just the latest attack on LGBTQ people by Hungarian authorities.”

These bills further restrict the rights of LGBTI children and parents in Hungary

Katrin Hugendubel, ILGA

Katrin Hugendubel the Advocacy Director at ILGA said:

“These bills further restrict the rights of LGBTI children and parents in Hungary. LGBTI children will be forced to grow up in an environment which restricts them from being able to express their identities, and children across Hungary will be refused safe and loving families, as adoption is restricted only to married heterosexual couples. This attempt to rush through these discriminatory, homophobic and transphobic new laws are part of an ongoing attack on LGBTI people by Hungarian authorities.”

Masen Davis, Executive Director at Transgender Europe said:

“Earlier this year, Hungary made it impossible for trans people to change their names and legal gender marker. We are deeply concerned for the health and safety of trans children and adults in Hungary in such a hostile climate. We call upon EU Commission President von der Leyen to address the rights of LGBT parents, the attempt to erase gender diverse children, and the ban on legal gender recognition in the Commission’s rule of law assessment and on-going Article 7 TEU proceedings against Hungary.”

We are deeply concerned for the health and safety of trans children and adults in Hungary in such a hostile climate

Masen Davis, Transgender Europe

BACKGROUND

The Hungarian Parliament passed a bill prohibiting adoption for non-married couples and amend the Constitution stating that “mother is a female and father is a male” and that Hungary “protects self-identity of the children’s sex by birth” which would further stigmatize the transgender and intersex people in Hungary.

See https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/eur27/3353/2020/en/

The post Hungary: Dark day for LGBTI community as homophobic discriminatory bill and constitutional amendments are passed appeared first on Amnesty International.

“This attempt to rush through these discriminatory, homophobic and transphobic new laws are part of an ongoing attack on LGBTQ people by Hungarian authorities.

This attempt to rush through these discriminatory, homophobic and transphobic new laws are part of an ongoing attack on LGBTQ people by Hungarian authorities

David Vig, Amnesty International

“The government is planning to adopt legislative changes that would further restrict LGBTQ rights just as they did in May when they rushed through a bill that banned legal gender recognition for transgender people. With the proposed 9^th amendment to the Constitution, they would further stigmatize the transgender people in Hungary.

The time has come to show we will not allow hatred and exclusion from the government to strip away our rights

David Vig, Amnesty International

“Hungary’s MPs must reject these draconian provisions and Hungary’s people must come together to show that the power of love is stronger than the love of power. The time has come to show we will not allow hatred and exclusion from the government to strip away our rights.”

BACKGROUND

On 15 December, the Hungarian Parliament is expected  to vote on a bill prohibiting adoption for non-married couples and amend the Constitution stating that “mother is a female and father is a male” and that Hungary “protects self-identity of the children’s sex by birth” which would further stigmatize the transgender and intersex people in Hungary.

 Parliamentary agenda here:

https://www.parlament.hu/documents/10181/87979/NR20201214_HB_utan.doc.pdf/2dfa4066-7044-e0fe-66cc-e63083c94dbc?t=1607600141998

For more information or to arrange an interview contact press@amnesty.org

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Responding to the European Council decision to continue with its plan to ensure that countries accessing the EU Budget comply with fundamental rights, Eve Geddie, Director of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office said:

“Given the dire situation of the rule of law in Hungary and Poland, with judges and independent media under attack, it is only right the European Council has agreed to ensure that countries accessing the EU Budget comply with fundamental rights through a ‘conditionality mechanism’.”

“It is a blow, however that the delay in its implementation will allow people’s rights and freedoms in Poland and Hungary to continue being eroded by their respective authorities. This will allow for irreparable damage to the human rights of people in Poland and Hungary, and to the integrity of the rule of law across the EU.”

“The EU and its member states must continue to leverage all legal, financial, and political tools, including Article 7 of the EU Treaty, already at their disposal to protect human rights and uphold rule of law.”

****************************************

For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact:
Amnesty International press office on press@amnesty.org +32 2 548 27 73 or +32 483 680 812

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email: press@amnesty.org 
twitter: @amnestypress 

The post EU: Delaying funding conditions risks further rights erosions in Poland and Hungary appeared first on Amnesty International.

Around the world, there has been a spike in reports of violence against women and girls during lockdowns and other restrictions, which left many women and girls trapped at home with their abusers or unable to easily access safety and support services. 

The surge in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, has brought into sharp relief the need for governments across the world to strengthen their protections for women and girls’ rights

Nils Muižnieks is Europe Director for Amnesty International

In Poland, the situation for women and girls may become even more dangerous after the country’s Minister of Justice Zbigniew Ziobro, announced last weekend a proposal to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, a landmark European treaty to prevent violence against women, including domestic violence. The treaty was, he claimed, “harmful” because it “contains elements of an ideological nature” requiring schools to teach children about gender. Critics say this language masks the government’s wider desire to reinforce the patriarchy while demonizing women’s rights and gender equality.

The Prime Minister said today that the Convention should be checked by Constitutional Tribunal to see if it is in line with Polish Constitution. This may delay the decision, but it nonetheless a worrying development, particularly because the independence of the court is highly compromised.

The ruling Law and Justice (PiS) party and its coalition partners are closely aligned to the Catholic Church and are actively pushing forward a neoconservative social agenda. For a number of years, their misrepresentation of women’s rights and gender equality as what they call “gender ideology” has fuelled attacks on the rights of LGBTI people. The Istanbul Convention has long been a target for populists who endorse the Minister’s spurious claim it poses a threat to “traditional family values.”

In Poland, the situation for women and girls may become even more dangerous after the country’s Minister of Justice, announced last weekend a proposal to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention

Nils Muižnieks is Europe Director for Amnesty International

Behind his words lies a profound contemptfor the rights of women, girls and LGBTI people. Withdrawing from the convention would be a dangerous measure with disastrous consequences to millions of women and girls and to organizations providing vital support to survivors of sexual and domestic violence. It sends a signal that their personal wellbeing and safety are not worth protecting. It would also be a retrogressive step, prohibited in international human rights law.

Official statistics, while incomplete, show a harrowing picture. Figures from 2019: more than 65,000 women and 12,000 children in Poland reported incidents of, or were found to have been, subjected to domestic violence. Only, 2,527 rape investigations were opened that year and NGOs estimate that percent of reported rapes is dramatically low. 

A recent Europe wide survey found that Polish women report fewer cases of domestic violence than other EU countries. This low level of reporting to the police, as Amnesty International’s research in Europe has shown, is associated with a lack of faith in the criminal justice system and a fear of victims not being believed. 

Since the outbreak of COVID-19, helplines and women’s shelters across Europe have reported an alarming spike of calls from women at risk of violence due to lockdowns and other restrictive measures. Poland is not an exception. While restrictions may be needed to control the spread of the virus, States should also respond with adequate measures to ensure women and girls’ safety. Withdrawing from the Convention does exactly the opposite.

The Istanbul Convention provides some vital safeguards for women and girls. It is the first European treaty specifically targeting violence against women and domestic violence. It covers all forms of gender-based violence. States that ratified the Convention including Poland have an obligation to protect and support survivors of such violence. They must also establish services such as hotlines, shelters, medical services, counselling and legal aid.

Were Poland push ahead and leave the Istanbul Convention, it would send a deeply disturbing signal that ensuring that women and girls live free from violence, is no longer a priority

Nils Muiznieks is Europe Director for Amnesty International

To date, the Convention has been signed by the vast majority of European states and the EU as a whole and ratified by 34 of them. In 2018 alone the convention entered into force in nine countries (Croatia, Cyprus, Germany, Estonia, Greece, Iceland, Luxembourg, North Macedonia and Switzerland) and in 2019 Ireland also ratified the treaty, following the historic landmark vote that put an end to the almost total ban on abortion in the country.  

But among some countries the desire to withdraw from the Convention has been high on the agenda. In Turkey, for example, women’s groups are expressing concerns at the intensification of the calls to withdraw from the Convention due to be discussed at the ruling party’s central executive committee on 5 August, this in the context of several brutal murders of women in the hands of men being widely reported in the media.

In other countries, such as Bulgaria and Slovakia and most recently, in Hungary, the parliaments have failed to ratify the Convention based on misconceptions of the notion of ‘gender’, and deliberately ignoring the harmful impact of gender stereotypes in the societies that put women and girls at risk of violence.

Similar misconceptions are stalling the ratification of the Convention in Ukraine where the existing laws on combatting domestic violence remain poorly implemented. Although ratification of the Convention is not on the Ukrainian parliament’s agenda, the country is looking into the issue after more than 25,000 people signed a petition calling on the President to initiate the ratification.

In 2018 in Bulgaria, the country’s Constitutional Court ruled that the Convention was not compatible with its Constitution, further perpetuating harmful misconceptions about the treaty’s scope and nature.

The surge in domestic violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, has brought into sharp relief the need for governments across the world to strengthen their protections for women and girls’ rights.

Were Poland to do the exact opposite, it would send a deeply disturbing signal that ensuring that women and girls live free from violence, is no longer a priority.

THIS ARTICLE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED HERE BY EURONEWS

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