“Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women – the Istanbul Convention after EU accession”

The Venice International University PhD Academy titled “Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women – the Istanbul Convention after EU accession” took place on 26–30 January 2026 on the island of San Servolo in Venice. The academy was organized by Sara de Vido (Ca’ Foscari University), Marina Calloni (University of Milano-Bicocca), and Zeynep Gülru Göker (Sabancı University). The program featured 11 instructors, including Ayşe Betül Çelik and Cenk Özbay from Sabancı University. The academy brought together 18 participants from different countries, including Damla Çakmak, instructor in the Foundations Development Program at Sabancı University, and Tuğçe Kaban, PhD student in Gender Studies at Sabancı University. Throughout the week, participants engaged with the legal dimensions of the Istanbul Convention, international legal instruments for combating violence against women, and current political debates on the issue. The program also included case analyses and group work sessions.