Biden 'disheartened' by Turkey's pulling out of İstanbul Convention

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US President Joe Biden has said that Turkey's withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention was "deeply disappointing."

"Around the world, we are seeing increases in the number of domestic violence incidents, including reports of rising femicide in Turkey, the first nation to sign the convention," he said in a written statement yesterday (March 21).

"Countries should be working to strengthen and renew their commitments to ending violence against women, not rejecting international treaties designed to protect women and hold abusers accountable. This is a disheartening step backward for the international movement to end violence against women globally.

"Gender-based violence is a scourge that touches every nation in every corner of the world ... It hurts all of us, and we all must do more to create societies where women are able to go about their lives free from violence."

A day before, he released a message marking Newroz, saying, "Spring is an eternal symbol of renewal and rebirth, with light and hope filling the hearts of people from the United States to Iran, Central Asia, the Caucuses, the Middle East, and Europe.

"That is the message and the joy of Nowruz that we are honoring with a Haft-Sin table in the White House. This year, perhaps more than ever, that message is badly needed. After all our pain and loss, we are reminded that better days lie ahead and that we all must work together to achieve a shared future of greater peace, prosperity, and understanding." (HA/VK)