site.btaPES President Stanishev Vows Support for Istanbul Convenion, Says Bulgaria Debate on Issue Was Distorted

Sofia, January 13 (BTA) - President of the Party of the European Socialists (PES) and MEP Sergei Stanishev supports the Istanbul Convention (the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence) and thinks that the debate on the issue in Bulgaria is distorted. Stanishev discussed the topic before reporters on his way to a meeting of the National Council of the Bulgarian Socialist Party (BSP) on the party's position about the document.

Ten days ago BSP's Executive Bureau took a stand against the ratification of the convention.

In Bulgaria the public is divided on its take on the convention, with many fearing that the document will open the doors for the introduction in this country of what they describe in Bulgarian as "social gender" or "third gender", which they argue goes against the traditional values in Bulgaria. The Socialists hold that the convention should change some of its definitions, and oppose its ratification.

The government approved the convention but it is subject to ratification by Parliament. The ruling coalition does not have a unified opinion on the matter either, with ministers and MPs from it believing that the document will lead to the legitimization of a "third gender".

According to Stanishev "bogus or hugely exaggerated fears or interpretations of the convention which have been given a clear answer from the Council of Europe displace the real problem of violence against women". He said that in the past year alone, three women were killed by their male partners after numerous complaints about violence. "Statistics and surveys show clearly that a quarter of women in Bulgaria have been victims of violence in one form or another," Stanishev said, adding that "what is being said about the convention simply does not exist".

Stanishev said that only a month ago at a PES council the BSP supported a resolution containing an express text in support of the Istanbul Convention.