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The vote late on Wednesday, which fell two votes short of
ratification, leaves the Czech Republic among the minority of
European countries that have signed the treaty - the Istanbul
Convention - but not ratified it.
The convention, forged by the Council of Europe and its dozens
of member states, recognises violence against women as a
violation of human rights and covers various forms of
gender-based violence.
It was first signed in Istanbul in 2011 and came into force
three years later.
Czech conservative opponents of the treaty have objected to it
deviating from what they call "traditional roles" for men and
women in society, and they say it has not reduced violence in
countries that have ratified it.
Czech European Affairs Minister Martin Dvorak called the
rejection an "international disgrace".
"We are sending a very bad signal to women and girls that we do
not consider it necessary to protect victims of domestic
violence," he said in a post on the X social media platform.
Prime Minister Petr Fiala, quoted in an interview with tabloid
Blesk, said the rejection was not a signal and would not impact
the country's fight against violence and existing laws. A wider
debate is needed for its future ratification, he said.
The Senate vote means the lower house of parliament will likely
not deal with the treaty now, CTK news agency said, making it
unclear when the legislation will be put forward again.
The vote however does not mean the Czech Republic has outright
rejected or seceded from the treaty, which it signed in 2016.
Most European Union States have signed and ratified the treaty,
although Slovakia has also not ratified it.
In 2021, Turkey itself pulled out of the treaty.
(Reporting by Jason Hovet; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
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