Istanbul Convention

Turkey's Council of State has rejected a request for the continuation of Turkey's stay in the Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe treaty designed to eradicate violence against women, and the annulment of the president's decision to leave the agreement despite an avalanche of opposition from women and feminist groups.

A woman shouts a slogan during a protest against Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, in Istanbul, Turkey, 2 April 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

Women hold placards and shot slogans during a protest against Turkey's announced withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, in Istanbul in March 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/ERDEM SAHIN

A decree was published early on April 30 in Turkey's Official Gazette, stating that a European treaty on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence will expire on July 1.

The main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) has lodged an appeal to the Council of State to nix a presidential decree to pull back Turkey from the Istanbul Convention, a multilateral Council of Europe blueprint introducing measures to stop violence against women.

The so called "Istanbul Convention" once seemed relatively uncontroversial: a 25-page document meant to reduce violence against women across Europe. 

But a decade later, the initiative, known as the Istanbul Convention, has unexpectedly become a proxy fight for the larger culture battles brewing between East and Western Europe. 

Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli has welcomed the government's decision to quit the Istanbul Convention that promotes gender rights and stipulates concrete legal and administrative actions to stop the violence against women.

Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention through a presidential decree is fully legal, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said, rebuffing criticisms made by opposition parties that suggested the move was overridden parliament's authority.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's unexpected and legally controversial decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention on women's rights could encourage other populist conservative governments in Europe to follow suit.

İYİ (Good) Party leader Meral Akşener criticized the government's decision to exit the Istanbul Convention, a pact designed to counter violence against women, on March 23.

"They do not have any concerns about protecting women or our children. Their only priority is to protect their seats. The Istanbul Convention keeps alive," she said, addressing her party members at the parliament.