This paper aims to focus on the implementation of the Istanbul Convention (IC) by Poland due to the Polish government having both signed and ratified the IC. The Convention offers a legal framework and a necessity to be implemented when ratified, putting pressure on the countries having ratified it to also implement its full meaning through a variety of articles. This is also a convention contributing with anti-gender actors expressing their dislike of certain content of the Convention leading to interpretation of its meaning. This interpretation of articles has led to different stances on the Convention of which Poland wishes to withdraw from the IC, while the EU wishes to ratify it.

This research attempts to answer in which way Poland is being an illiberal challenge towards the EUs values and norms, based on their implementation of specific articles of the IC that are directly linked to the opposition driving anti-gender actor, being following; article 3, 12-16.

Further on, the results that are based on the interpretation of the articles in the IC show a pattern of illiberal tendencies taking form through a shifted choice of discourse from violence against women and women's rights, to a focus on violence in families and family rights. The findings of this research tell us that the challenge Poland contributes is one showing illiberal standing-points when it comes to protecting certain rights of certain groups not only when it comes to the IC but also in relation to not being respectful of the rule of law. The conclusions of this work tell us that the illiberal challenge is shown through excluding certain groups and definitions and putting focus on family and tradition.