On the second anniversary of Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, women’s rights activists and platforms are standing firm in their refusal to accept the decision, demonstrating their unwavering commitment to combatting sex-based violence.
Turkey signed the Istanbul Convention in 2011 with the goal of protecting women from violence and eliminating domestic violence. However, in February 2020, the convention came under scrutiny and faced criticism from certain sectors of the society associated with the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). Claims were made that the convention disrupted traditional family structures and provided a legal basis for homosexuality.
On 20 March 2021, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced Turkey’s withdrawal from the convention through a presidential decree published in the Official Gazette. Officially, Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention on 1 July 2021, exactly two years ago.
Since the withdrawal, women’s rights organisations and the We Will Stop Femicide Platform have reported an increase in violence against women. The platform recorded 280 women killed and 217 suspicious deaths in 2021, followed by 334 women killed and 245 suspicious deaths in 2022. The data available until April 2023 revealed the deaths of 21 women and 23 suspicious deaths this year.
Despite Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, women’s activists and platforms remain resolute, refusing to accept the decision and pledging to safeguard women’s rights.
Speaking to Mezopotamya Agency, Rüya Kurtuluş from the Women’s Advocacy Network highlighted the significance of the Istanbul Convention in promoting equality between sexes and combating violence against women. She criticised the decision to withdraw, which was made without consulting women’s organisations and put numerous women’s lives at risk.
Gülizar İpek, a volunteer for the Women’s Platform for Equality (EŞİK), denounced the decision to withdraw from the convention and stressed the continuous resistance against it. She noted the increase in violence against women following the termination of the convention, attributing it to the government’s misogynistic policies. İpek vowed to continue their campaigns in support of the convention.