It's hard to imagine why any country would choose not to protect women, but unfortunately, I can think of one that has. In 2021, Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention, an international treaty aimed at preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. For those unfamiliar, the Istanbul Convention, adopted by the Council of Europe, provides a comprehensive framework to protect women, offering support for victims, and strengthening police and judicial responses to violence.
You might wonder, why would any country step away from such an important and necessary measure?
Turkey's official reasons for withdrawal included concerns over the Convention’s definition of gender and what they perceived as its negative impact on family structures. The government also argued that Turkey's domestic legal frameworks were sufficient to protect women from domestic violence. But here’s where that argument falls short.
Recent data shows that the protections offered by Turkey's existing laws are not enough. While it would be an oversimplification to say that the withdrawal directly caused an increase in violence, it certainly played a significant role in exacerbating the issue.
Let me share a personal story. A friend of mine was harassed, along with several other children, on a bus. She was the only one brave enough to report it. But why? Because others feared that if they did, the courts might reveal their home addresses to the harasser. Under the Istanbul Convention, victims could opt out of having their personal details disclosed, helping ensure their safety when seeking justice. Without this protection, fewer cases are being reported, leaving women more vulnerable to ongoing threats.
Here’s another tragic example that recently made the headlines: Two young women were brutally murdered in broad daylight. Their bodies were dismembered. One of the women had previously reported her attacker to the police, but nothing was done. And yet, we saw every horrific detail of the case splashed across the media, with pictures likely leaked by the police officers involved. This is a painful reminder of how ineffective the justice system is in truly protecting women.
In Turkey, this creates a vicious cycle. Women are afraid to report violence because they fear further harm. And even when they do speak out, there’s no real support. They’re left in a state of constant fear, with the law offering little more than empty promises.
This is where the Istanbul Convention made a difference. It mandated the criminalization of all forms of sexual violence, forced marriages, and honor-based violence. It pushed for policies that ensured women would have access to the justice they deserve.
Since the withdrawal and the back-to-back murders, protests have erupted across Turkey and even globally, calling for the government to rejoin the Istanbul Convention and restore vital protections for women. Yet, the prospects of success remain slim, and the hope for significant improvements in Turkey’s domestic legal framework seems faint.
So, now you know the grim reality facing many women in Turkey. Despite their courage and resilience, they continue to fight a system that fails to adequately protect them.
Here are some relevant information:
Remembering women who have died due to violence - https://anitsayac.com/?year=2024
Femicides and protests in Turkey - https://www.dw.com/en/outrage-in-turkey-over-spate-of-brutal-murders-of-women/a-70542846
*Image courtesy of Amnesty International.
Eylül Yaşaroğlu
Year 2 Law LLB
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