A group of experts from the Council of Europe on combating violence against women and domestic violence has published a report on Ukraine’s implementation of the Istanbul Convention. The document highlights the high level of wartime stress and traces the increasingly close link between the war and severe domestic violence.
The experts warn that the population’s prolonged exposure to wartime conditions is gradually lowering the threshold of tolerance for violence against women. Current state measures to mitigate the effects of PTSD are also insufficient.
Despite positively assessing Ukraine’s political will, GREVIO emphasizes the need for further legislative changes. In particular, the experts call for criminalizing stalking, allowing criminal proceedings to be initiated without a mandatory complaint from the victim, and moving away from lenient penalties such as fines or community service.
