Istanbul Convention contains no sensitive issues often discussed, says minister

Lithuania’s Minister of Social Security and Labour Inga Ruginienė has stated that the Istanbul Convention contains none of the sensitive issues frequently debated, and that she supports the document.

“I support the convention myself, and it truly contains none of those sensitive issues often discussed. It is an important international instrument that will help us combat violence,” Ruginienė told the liberal faction in the Seimas on Tuesday.

Viktorija Čmilytė-Nielsen, leader of the Liberal Movement, asked Ruginienė whether, as prime minister, she had faced pressure from coalition partners in the “Nemuno aušra” group not to submit the convention to the Seimas for ratification.

“Can you confirm that, as prime minister, you yielded to demands from ‘Nemuno aušra’ not to include the issue of violence against women on the agenda?” Čmilytė-Nielsen asked.

Ruginienė replied: “There was no such demand, I never received one, so there was nothing to yield to. But I myself support the Istanbul Convention.”

Last October, while serving as prime minister, Ruginienė stated during a visit to Latvia that she saw no obstacles to Lithuania ratifying the Istanbul Convention on preventing violence against women.

The Istanbul Convention is an international treaty obliging member states to adopt comprehensive policies to better protect women from all forms of violence, as well as women and men from domestic violence. This includes providing comprehensive support and protection to victims, crisis centres, 24-hour hotlines, specialised support centres for victims of sexual violence, and protection and support for children who witness violence.

Lithuania signed the Istanbul Convention in 2013 but has not yet ratified it, as the process has stalled due to political disagreements over certain provisions. Last February, the Constitutional Court ruled that the convention does not contradict the Constitution.

Opponents of the convention’s ratification claim that, if adopted, Lithuania would have to teach about non-stereotypical gender roles and gender identity choice in schools.

The Seimas did not accept for consideration amendments to the Law on Equal Opportunities proposed by the Ministry of Social Security and Labour, which had been approved by the government. The amendments aimed to systematically review the regulation of equal opportunities policies and timely transpose new EU directives setting common standards for the activities of equality bodies into national law.