DISINFO: Armenia initiates a referendum to ratify the Istanbul Convention
SUMMARY
The authorities initiated a consitutional referendum to change members of the Constitutional court. This is aimed at ratifying the Istanbul Convention, even though it contradicts the Constitution.
For the Convention to be ratified, the Constitutional Court needs to conclude that it does not contradict Armenia’s Constitution.
With its current staff, the Constitutional Court of Armenia, would never reach such a conclusion. So, it is very important for the authorities to change the members of the Constitutional Court as soon as possible.
RESPONSE
Recurring disinformation narrative about the Istanbul Convention. The Istanbul Convention (the Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence) is a treaty of the Council of Europe for the creation of a legal framework at pan-European level to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence.
The referendum has nothing to do with the Istanbul Convention. Under the proposed amendments, the Constitutional court’s chairman and six other members appointed by former Armenian governments would be replaced by other judges to be confirmed by the current parliament. The chairman and members of the CC are accused of having remaining links to the “former corrupt regime”.
The claim that the current Constitutional Court would never give a positive opinion about the Istanbul Convention is manipulation. The Armenian Ministry of Justice clarifies that the Convention does not threaten Armenia's traditional values. The Convention states that traditions, cultures and religion cannot justify violence against women. In addition, the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe issued an opinion that "there are no provisions in that Convention that could be said to 'contradict' the Constitution of Armenia."
Other disinformation cases about the Istanbul Convention are available here. Read similar cases claiming that the Istanbul Convention will destroy traditional families and that it is attacking identity and traditions, that an influx of 50 000 perverts is expected from abroad and that Istanbul convention is a threat to the Armenian Army.