A year has passed since Turkey’s decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. What did it mean for women and the women’s movement that the convention has not been not in force?
On 20 March 2021, Turkey announced that it withdrew from the “The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence”, known as the Istanbul Convention with a Presidential decision as conservatives within the ruling party have argued the treaty’s principles of gender equality undermine traditional family values.
Women’s organizations commented on what it meant for women that the Convention has not been in force since a year, and why the women’s movement has not given up on the Istanbul Convention.
Assoc. Dr. Sevgi Uçan Çubukçu on behalf of the EŞİK Platform,
“The Istanbul Convention has become the symbol of a larger political regime debate: a democracy based on equality or a totalitarian patriarchal regime? Unfortunately, by turning a blind eye to the demands of the society and most importantly of the women, the political power, have lost its prestige and power as Turkey moved away from democracy. Because when we look at the main dynamics that shape history and the international system, we see that states become prestigious and powerful based on democratic values and practices rather than economic, geopolitical, military reasons.
“The determination of women’s platforms such as EŞİK, feminists and, of course, LGBTI organizations, unions, professional chambers, local administrations, political parties and individual citizens, tells us this: Despite the absence of a public space, the women’s movement with its struggle for the Istanbul Convention, is at the forefront of Turkey’s most important democratic social forces.”
Fidan Ataselim on behalf of the We Will Stop Femicide Platform
“With the pandemic and the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, there has been a serious increase in femicides. We will continue not to give up on the Istanbul Convention. With our more organized struggle, we will establish an equal and free future for all women and LGBTIQ+s with our own hands, without waiting for anyone’s help.”
Canan Güllü on behalf of the Federation of Women Associations of Turkey
“The withdrawal led to an increase in the number of femicides. For example, we witness prolongation of the decision-making processes in sexual abuse cases, which favors the perpetrators. After the withdrawal, especially in the first months, the behavior and rhetoric of law enforcement officers have been a huge obstacle for women’s appeal to law enforcement. There has been a decrease in the number of victims calling our emergency helpline and, again, withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention has left women in a precarious state in the face of violence.”
A new government proposal in place of the Istanbul Convention
A new government proposal to combat gender-based violence has been harshly criticized by activists for being lenient on perpetrators of violence and not acknowledging gender equality.
According to the proposal that was put forward by the Justice and Development Party (AKP) government and sent to parliament for debate, if the perpetrator of violence shows remorse, they can benefit from a reduced sentence.
Selime Büyükgöze from the Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter, said the Istanbul convention emphasized the equality of genders. “The government’s new proposal to tackle gender-based violence will be ineffective because it does not acknowledge gender equality,” she said.
“The arguments put forward by government officials and the president that men and women are not equal have led to an immense loss of faith among women that authorities are sincere in their promise to tackle femicide and gender-based violence.”
According to Selin Nakipoğlu, from the Women’s Platform for Equality (ESIK), had the convention been implemented properly since it went into force in August 2014, several protective measures would have been put into place.
“A nationwide phone line for women who were subject to violence was supposed to be launched. Moreover, rape crisis centers and a commission for gender equality were supposed to be established,” said Nakipoğlu.
She added that the convention was also important for imposing the necessary punishment on perpetrators of violence and femicide.