"The Greek government will defend in all international fora the Istanbul Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence as a cornerstone of our legal culture and our values”, Alternate Minister of Foreign Affairs Miltiadis Varvitsiotis underlined on the occasion of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, addressing today the Parliament's Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs.
Mr. Varvitsiotis stated that today is a day of reflection and action, emphasizing the significance of the Istanbul Convention for the protection of women and children from gender-based and domestic violence. He described the Convention as an integral part of the European civilisation, underscoring that it should be applied without any compromise by all countries sharing European values. He recalled that during Greece's Chairmanship of the Council of Europe, member states such as Hungary, Türkiye, and Azerbaijan did not sign the Athens Declaration because it contained a reference to the Istanbul Convention. "We condemn any political expressions that support the withdrawal of their countries from the Istanbul Convention," he added.
The Alternate Minister’s remarks were made during the second reading of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' draft law on "Organization and Operation of the National Unit ETIAS and other provisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs" at the Parliament's Standing Committee on National Defence and Foreign Affairs.
November 25, 2022