Evils of the Istanbul Convention. Discourse analysis of Latvian press publications (2016)

Abstract

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence caused heated discussion both in society and media in Latvia. The controversy was caused because Convention is based on the understanding that violence against women is a form of gender-based violence that is committed against women because they are women. The discussion showed that there are various interpretations and misinterpretations of gender as a concept. As well as hostility towards gender equality interpreted as a propaganda against so called traditional family values. The mass media play an important role in shaping of public thought.

The mass media today are the main source of information – a source which not only offers reportage about important events, but also determines the public agenda. By offering commentary on various subjects, the media construct public attitudes towards those subjects. The aim of this article is to examine how the Istanbul Convention was represented in Latvian daily newspapers, what discourses were dominating in media; what information regarding the Convention, gender and gender equality were communicated.