Turkey Anulls the Istanbul Convention
On March 20, in the middle of CSW65, the Turkish government annulled the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence (known as the Istanbul Convention - ironically) by a decree signed by Turkish President Erdogan.
The Istanbul Convention is based on CEDAW and other human rights treaties of the UN, to which Turkey is a party. Designed to protect women and girls against all forms of violence, the Convention is a comprehensive framework for states to take legal, administrative and policy measures to combat gender-based violence.
The Istanbul Convention had been signed and ratified by the Turkish parliament in 2011, and the withdrawl is unconstitutional. It is also unconscionable while at least 3 women are murdered every day in Turkey.
Since July of 2020, the women's movement in Turkey has been fighting the backlash organized by religious networks and right-wing groups against the Istanbul Convention. Turkey’s women’s movement has been resisting these attacks and been in communication and solidarity with women’s organizations in Eastern European countries.
"We do not accept the decision, and we will continue to struggle to end violence against women."