Due to the action "Let's open the truth about violence" the Office of the President informs that President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy consistently supports the steps aimed at protecting the rights of victims of domestic violence, gender-based violence, as well as ensuring proper response to cases of such violence.
In June 2020, the President supported an electronic petition calling for ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence also known as the Istanbul Convention.
On September 21, 2020, the President signed the Decree "On Urgent Measures to Prevent and Combat Domestic Violence, Gender-Based Violence, Protect the Rights of Victims of Such Violence", designed to ensure an integrated approach to overcoming domestic violence. In view of this decree, the Cabinet of Ministers in April this year approved a Plan of Urgent Measures to Prevent and Combat Domestic Violence, Gender-Based Violence, and Protect the Rights of Victims of Such Violence.
Preparations for the submission of the draft law "On Ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence" to the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine are currently being completed in the Office of the President.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy's position on the need for Ukraine to accede to this Convention is fundamental and unchanging. Upon completion of the relevant procedures, the Head of State will be ready to submit the bill to the Parliament.
Therefore, the most important issue now is the consolidation of efforts of all parties around Ukraine's ratification of the Istanbul Convention.