"Justice can become blind to truth when it does not consider emotions": Insights into GREVIO, the independent monitoring body of the Istanbul Convention

In this episode of The Feminist Files, Helena sits down with Dr Maria-Andriani Kostopoulou, President of GREVIO: the Council of Europe’s independent monitoring body for the Istanbul Convention. As the leading mechanism ensuring that states uphold their commitments to combat violence against women and domestic violence, GREVIO occupies a crucial role. President Kostopoulou give her insights on how GREVIO evaluates states, issues recommendations, and navigates political resistance. The conversation explores the deeper philosophical and political stakes of justice. Drawing on her powerful insight that “justice can become blind to truth when it does not consider emotions,” Dr Kostopoulou explains why listening to victims, beyond case files and formal procedures, is essential to achieving real accountability.Helena and Dr Kostopoulou also unpack some of the most pressing challenges facing gender equality today:The backlash against the Istanbul Convention, including controversies such as Latvia’s attempted withdrawalThe rise of reactionary and anti-gender ideologies across EuropeThe growing threat of cyberviolence and online misogynyPersistent barriers to justice, from underfunded systems to widespread impunityFor any comments or suggestions, please get in touch via [email protected] or on Instagram : @the_feminist_files_ CreditsHosted by Helena KondakJoined by Maria-Andriani Kostopoulou,Edited by Rowan BerkleyCover design by Madeleine BaberMusic by Jacob Carey Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.