On Wednesday, April 14, Contemporary Challenges in American & Global Law held its first program of the Spring Session, focusing on “Combating Gender-Based Violence: The Council of Europe Istanbul Convention Approach and the U.S. Experience.” The program was held just weeks after Turkey—which was the first country to ratify the Istanbul Convention in 2011—announced its withdrawal from the Convention. Katarzyna Wolska-Wrona (CUA LL.M. 2005), Chief Expert for the European Affairs Committee, Prime Minister's Chancellery Republic of Poland, led the discussion from the European perspective, while the Honorable Diane Kiesel ’85, Acting Supreme Court Justice for the Supreme Court of New York County, Criminal Term, provided comments considering the American experience.