Withdrawal from İstanbul Convention ‘sends a dangerous message’

* Photo: Zeynep Kuray

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High Representative of the European Union (EU) for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission Josep Borrell, Germany's Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs Heiko Maas, Chair of the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers, and the President of the Council of Europe's Parliamentary Assembly, Rik Daems, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen have made statements criticizing Turkey's withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention by a decree issued by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Borrell: We urge Turkey to reverse the decision

In a statement on March 20, Josep Borrell said:

"The Istanbul Convention is the first international legally binding instrument to combat violence against women and domestic violence. It aims at ensuring essential legal protection to women and girls across the world.

"This is today more important than ever, as violence against women and girls has increased to new levels world-wide as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and of the many conflicts, where women are primary victims.

"Now is the time to show leadership and enhance global efforts to fight violence against women and girls, not to retreat.

"This is why we cannot but regret deeply and express incomprehension towards the decision of the Turkish government to withdraw from this convention that even bears the name of Istanbul. This decision risks compromising the protection and fundamental rights of women and girls in Turkey. It also sends a dangerous message across the world.

"We therefore cannot but urge Turkey to reverse its decision. We hope that Turkey will soon join again the European Union in defending the rights of women and girls, a fundamental element of human rights, peace, security and equality in the 21st century."

'Don't weaken the international system'

Heiko Maas and Rik Daems have also stated:

"Turkey was the first member State to ratify in 2012 the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, opened for signature in Istanbul during the Turkish Chairmanship of the Organisation 10 years ago. And it did so by a unanimous vote at the Grand National Assembly.

"We thus deeply regret the decision of the President of Turkey to withdraw from this Convention widely supported in the country, without any parliamentary debate.

"We recall that the purpose of the Convention is to prevent violence against women, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators. It upholds women's fundamental human right to a life free from violence.

"Leaving the Convention would deprive Turkey and Turkish women of a vital tool to counter violence. 

"We therefore call on the Turkish authorities not to weaken the international system to protect women against violence put in place by the Istanbul Convention".

'Violence against women is intolerable'

Ursula von der Leyen has also tweeted, "Violence against women is not tolerable. Women deserve a strong legal framework to protect them. I support the İstanbul Convention and call on all signatories to ratify it."

Violence against women is not tolerable.

Women deserve a strong legal framework to protect them.

I support the #IstambulConvention and call on all signatories to ratify it. https://t.co/1skNsXaEQH

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) March 21, 2021

What happened?

Turkey has withdrawn from the İstanbul Convention with a Presidential decree published in the Official Gazette on March 20, 2021.

The decree in question said that "the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, which was signed by Turkey on May 11, 2011 and approved with the Cabinet Decree no. 2012/2816 on February 10, 2012, shall be terminated on the part of Turkey as per the Article 3 of the Presidential Decree no. 9."

Following this Presidential decree published at midnight, several social media users, women's rights defenders, lawyers and politicians, denounced the decision, recalling that the convention was unanimously approved at the Parliament and stressing that it is not possible for Turkey to withdraw from an international convention with a Presidential decree. (RT/HA/SD)