The Verkhovna Rada supported the ratification of the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention. 

259 MPs voted for it, 4 MPs voted against it and 25 abstained.

The "Servants of People" faction had 193 "for" votes, "European Solidarity" - 9, "Batkivshchyna" abstained by all 13 MPs; "Golos" gave 10 "for" votes, "Platform for Life and Peace", "Trust" and "Restoration of Ukraine" all voted "for", "For the Future" - 2.

The ratification of the Istanbul Convention is considered a good signal ahead of the EU summit regarding Ukraine's readiness to implement the reforms necessary for European integration.

The Istanbul Convention or the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence is an international agreement first signed in 2011. 

It is the first of its kind, legally binding to establish a legal framework to combat violence against women. Countries joining the convention must criminalize psychological violence, stalking, physical and sexual violence, forced marriage, forced abortion and sterilization.

The document was signed by 46 countries and the European Union. However, 10 more (before the current vote and Ukraine) have not ratified the agreement. Ukraine signed the Istanbul Convention back in 2011, but its ratification was delayed due to protests by churches and conservative politicians over its use of the term "gender.