Template letter to your MP about the Istanbul Convention.
This letter identifies 3 objections – there are others. Please use the information here.
Istanbul Convention
Dear <MP name>
I am a constituent.
I am writing to ask you to take action on the Istanbul Convention by seeking a ‘reservation’ on harmful parts of the Convention. The deadline around 20th June.
The Home Secretary has recently announced that, if no objections are raised, the UK will ratify the treaty at the end of July (2022). Objections need to be raised in the next 2 weeks. Urgent action is needed to minimise the damage this will cause.
The Istanbul Convention, which appears to be about tackling violence against women and girls, should not be ratified as it stands because it is based on ideas which many people do not agree with and which can have harmful effects.
These include
Article 3 that gender is socially constructed
Definition of the violence covered in the Convention.
“Gender based violence against women shall mean violence that is directed against a woman because she is a woman or that affects women disproportionately.”
This does not cover most of the violence experienced by women as very little is “directed against a woman because she is a woman”.
Article 12
“Parties shall take the necessary measures to promote changes in the social and cultural patterns of behaviour of women and men with a view to eradicating prejudices, customs, traditions and all other practices which are based on ….. stereotyped roles for women and men.”
This could be interpreted as removing the concept of ‘mother’ and ‘father’
Article 14 that these ideas should be taught to all pupils in education.
Article 18. General Obligations. That the concepts contained in the Convention must be applied in future UK laws.
The Home Secretary has pointed out “Article 78(2) of the Convention allows countries to make a reservation on certain provisions of the Convention. This means that the country will not be bound by that particular provision.”
I am writing to ask you to seek a ‘reservation’ on harmful parts of the Convention. The deadline around 20th June.
More information is available here
<your name>
<your address and postcode>