Bulgarian court deals blow to hopes for treaty on violence against women

By Angel Krasimirov

 

FILE PHOTO: Bulgaria's Prime Minister Boyko Borissov speaks at the Western Balkans Summit in London, Britain, July 10, 2018. REUTERS/Simon Dawson/File Photo

 

SOFIA (Reuters) - Bulgaria's top court ruled on Friday that a European treaty to combat violence against women violates the constitution, likely eliminating any chance the treaty can be ratified.

 

The centre-right government of Prime Minister Boyko Borissov submitted the Istanbul Convention to parliament for ratification in January only to withdraw it a few weeks later because of an uproar over its language about gender roles.

 

Its critics include the influential Bulgarian Orthodox Church, the opposition Socialist party and the nationalist alliance United Patriots, which is in government. All said it could encourage young people to identify as transgender or third sex and lead to same-sex marriage.

 

The Constitutional Court said the treaty used vague language and explained some concepts poorly. It said its ruling had taken into account the views of President Rumen Radev, several ministers, the state child protection and non-government groups.

 

Seventy-five lawmakers from Borissov's GERB party had asked the court to determine if the treaty was in conflict with the constitution.

 

The 81-article treaty was drawn up by the Council of Europe, the continent's leading human rights organisation. The government signed it in 2016 and ratification was the next step.

 

Debate centres on its definition of "gender" as "social roles, behaviours, activities and characteristics that a particular society considers appropriate for women and men".

 

Human rights groups and senior EU officials have urged the Bulgarian authorities to ratify the treaty quickly, as 32 European countries have done.

 

Radev has said voiced concerns over ratification, saying loose textual language allowed for multiple interpretations. He also said the treaty does not prevent violence, arguing it persists in countries that have already ratified it.

 

Socially conservative countries such as Hungary, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Britain and Ireland are yet to ratify the treaty.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-28

These a**H***s are living in the  male dominating  past.

555 - welcome to the the EU 2018

Nothing prevents the individual nations of the EU enacting the terms of the treaty.

This blows a large gaping hole in the argument that member states lose their sovereignty when joining the EU.

13 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

This blows a large gaping hole in the argument that member states lose their sovereignty when joining the EU.

You sond's a bit confused, aren't you?

49 minutes ago, German farang said:

You sond's a bit confused, aren't you?

 

EU cannot enact a treaty while individual member state objects.

 

If there is any confusion it is in the mind of those who insist joining the EU removes a nation’s sovereignty.

 

21 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

EU cannot enact a treaty while individual member state objects.

 

If there is any confusion it is in the mind of those who insist joining the EU removes a nation’s sovereignty.

 

Well, but just exactly is the goal from the Bruesseles' govt. Isn't it?!?

54 minutes ago, German farang said:

Well, but just exactly is the goal from the Bruesseles' govt. Isn't it?!?

Whatever you allege their goals may be, the small and impoverished nation of Bulgaria put a stop to a treaty endorsed by major nations. You really have no rational answer to counter that fact.

A troll post which has earned the poster a holiday and a reply have both been removed.

I fail to see the point of a treaty specifically related to gender. Assault is assault by any gender and laws already exist to deal with assault, so why female specific.

It's worth noting, IMO, that while not many ( but some ) women engage in physical violence against men, women have the edge in mental cruelty, as I can personally testify, having worked in a female dominated occupation for decades.