The European Union and the fragmentation of the international human rights regime: the case of violence against women

Abstract

This book chapter scrutinizes divergent attitudes toward human rights universality, focusing on women’s rights, particularly in combating violence against women. It reveals cracks at both the international and pan-European levels. Moreover, the chapter illustrates that the European Union is not immune to such fractures. Tensions emerge, particularly in Central and Eastern Europe, regarding the Istanbul Convention, reflecting a broader debate on universalistic versus traditional values, as well as on the appropriate governance level to address violence against women.