Violence against women and domestic violence in relation to the Istanbul Convention

• Author: Koldinská, Kristina
• Pages: 53-53

53

10Violence against women and domestic violence in relation to the Istanbul

Convention

10.1General (legal) context

10.1.1Surveys and reports on issues of violence against women and domestic violence

Recent reports and surveys on violence against women and domestic violence have been

gathered in an information booklet published by the Government and entitled The

European Convention on Violence against Women and Domestic Violence – Myths and

Facts.81

10.1.2Overview of national acts on violence against women, domestic violence and

issues related to the Istanbul Convention

The following acts tackle violence against women, domestic violence and issues related

to the Istanbul Convention:

Act No. 40/2009 Coll., Penal Code;82

Act No. 141/1961 Coll., Penal Procedure Code;83

Act No. 45/2013 Coll., on victims of crimes;84

Act No. 108/2006 Coll., on social services.85

10.1.3National provisions on online violence and online harassment

Online violence and online harassment is tackled by the same legislation, there is no

special legislation (meaning act).

10.1.4Political and societal debate

The political and public debate on the Istanbul Convention has been and still is very

emotional. Even though Czechiais not a very religious country, churches, especially the

Catholic church (or parts of it), have vehemently attacked the Istanbul Convention,

arguing that, if it is ratified, the traditional Czech family will be dismantled and people

will be afraid to tell to their children that they are boys or girls and educate them as

boys or girls. Many people, including Christian intellectuals, oppose these arguments.

10.2Ratification of the Istanbul Convention

In February 2016 the Government agreed to sign the IC and start the ratification

process. The IC was signed in May 2016 and was expected to be ratified by mid-2018.86

The IC has been strongly rejected by some representatives of Christian churches and

some MPs have led quite a strong campaign against it. It does not seem likely that the

Istanbul Convention will be ratified soon.

81Vláda ČR (2018) Úmluva Rady Evropy o prevenci a potírání násilí vči ženám a domácího násilí: mýty a

fakta. Available at: www.vlada.cz/assets/ppov/rovne-prilezitosti-zen-a-

muzu/Projekt_OPZ/Vystupy_projektu/Brozura-Umluva-proti-nasili-na-zenach-FINAL.pdf.

82Zákon č. 40/2009 Sb., trestní zákoník. Available at: https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2009-40.

83Zákon č. 141/1961 Sb., o trestním ízení soudním (trestní ád). Available at:

https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/1961-41.

84Zákon č. 45-2013 Sb., o obtech trestných čin a o zmn nkterých zákon (zákon o obtech trestných

čin). Available at: https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2013-45.

85Zákon č. 108/2006 Sb., o sociálních službách. Available at: https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2006-108.

86 See the press release by the Government at: www.vlada.cz/cz/ppov/rovne-prilezitosti-zen-a-

muzu/aktuality/ceska-republika-podepsala-istanbulskou-umluvu-proti-nasili-na-zenach--143594/.