Fact Check: Istanbul Convention do promote gay rights or just promote to increase the awareness of gender based violence affecting women

Fact Check: "Istanbul Convention do promote gay rights or just promote to increase the awareness of gender-based violence affecting women"

What We Know

The Istanbul Convention, formally known as the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, is a human rights treaty aimed at combating violence against women and domestic violence. It was opened for signature on May 11, 2011, and came into force on August 1, 2014. As of March 2019, it has been signed by 45 countries and the European Union, with Turkey being the first to ratify it in 2012, although it later withdrew in 2021 (source-1, source-3).

The Convention explicitly recognizes violence against women as a violation of human rights and a form of discrimination against women. It aims to create a comprehensive legal framework to prevent violence, protect victims, and prosecute offenders (source-3). The treaty defines gender as "the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for women and men" (source-1).

While the primary focus of the Istanbul Convention is on women's rights and gender-based violence, it does not explicitly promote gay rights or address issues related to sexual orientation. However, it does emphasize the importance of preventing violence against all individuals, which can include LGBTQ+ persons, although this is not its primary aim (source-8).

Analysis

The claim that the Istanbul Convention promotes gay rights is somewhat misleading. The Convention's main objective is to combat violence against women, and it does not set new standards regarding gender identity or sexual orientation. According to the Council of Europe, the Convention does not require states to recognize same-sex couples or establish new rights for LGBTQ+ individuals (source-8).

However, the Convention does acknowledge that gender-based violence affects women disproportionately and recognizes the need for comprehensive measures to protect all victims of violence, which can include LGBTQ+ individuals. Some scholarly articles suggest that while the Convention primarily addresses violence against women, it also has implications for LGBTQ+ rights by promoting awareness of violence in all forms (source-2).

The reliability of the sources used in this analysis varies. Official documents from the Council of Europe and reputable organizations like Amnesty International provide credible information regarding the Convention's aims and implications (source-3, source-5). In contrast, interpretations from less formal sources may reflect personal or political biases, which should be approached with caution.

Conclusion

The claim that the Istanbul Convention promotes gay rights is Partially True. While the Convention primarily focuses on preventing violence against women and does not explicitly advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, it does create a framework that can indirectly support the awareness of violence affecting all individuals, including those in the LGBTQ+ community. Therefore, while the Convention does not promote gay rights per se, its implications can extend to broader discussions about violence and discrimination based on sexual orientation.

Fact Check: Istanbul Convention do promote gay rights or just promote to increase the awareness of gender based violence affecting women