(AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski)WARSAW Poles are bitterly divided over steps being taken by the right-wing government to leave the Istanbul Convention, a European treaty against domestic violence, claiming it promotes gender ideology and links violence to religion.
He insisted Polands own legislation protects women and children against violence to an even higher degree than the convention.
"Leaving the Istanbul Convention would be highly regrettable and a major step backwards in the protection of women against violence in Europe, Pejcinovic Buric tweeted Sunday.
The treaty formally named the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is based on the premise that women are targeted with violence just because they are women.
It states that men and women have equal rights and obliges state authorities to take steps to prevent violence against women, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators.