ABSTRACT
The Istanbul Convention holds great potential to combat the prejudices and stereotypes that have historically construed women as subordinate to men in society. It is, however, less clear whether the Convention holds equally strong potential to advance women’s actual power in the political and socio-economic spheres (e.g. women’s equal participation in politics and in the labour market). This chapter argues that if the Convention is to fully realise its substantive equality aspiration and to effectively combat violence against women, it needs to be interpreted so as to promote women’s de facto equality politically and socioeconomically. The arguments in the chapter draw mainly on an international human rights instrument from which the Istanbul Convention drafters drew significant inspiration: the Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), which brings together civil, political, social and economic rights in advancing women’s equality.
