Turkey's withdrawal from convention concerns Europe

The Council of Europe and leaders of some European countries expressed concern on March 20 for Turkey's withdrawal from a European treaty on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence.

"Turkey's announced withdrawal from the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on violence against women is devastating news," said Marija Pejcinovic Buric, secretary-general of the Council of Europe, in a statement.

Noting that the Convention covers 34 European countries, she said it is regarded as the gold standard in international efforts to protect women and girls from the violence that they face every day.

"This move is a huge setback to these efforts and all the more deplorable because it compromises the protection of women in Turkey, across Europe, and beyond," said Buric.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said on Twitter that he deplored the decision. "This decline in rights is worrying."

Germany's Foreign Office also issued a statement on Turkey's withdrawal, saying the move "sends the wrong signal to Europe and to women in Turkey."

Noting that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan recently presented a human rights action plan that also deals with combating domestic violence and violence against women, it said the termination of the convention raises questions on the plan's goals.

Meanwhile, thousands protested on March 20 calling for Erdoğan to reverse his decision to withdraw from the treaty.

"Reverse your decision, apply the treaty!" chanted thousands of people during a protest in Istanbul's Kadıköy neighborhood on March 20.

Turkish officials hail withdrawal from treaty

Turkish officials on March 20 voiced support for a decision to withdraw from a...