The Istanbul Agreement, the withdrawal of too much!

At a time when the Turkish lira is depreciating to record lows, Recep Tayyip Erdogan managed to divert attention from economic problems and created controversy by withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention. The agreement, in force since 2014, obliges governments to have strong legislation in place to protect women from domestic violence and abuses such as marital rape and female genital mutilation, to name a few. But what is the situation today, as the situation of Turkish women has continued to deteriorate?  According to the NGOs present, three women are murdered in Turkey every day! (In Europe, one woman is murdered every three days).

Alarming as these figures are, they are below the reality and women continue to suffer from a society that is increasingly radicalised in favour of the dominant male.

For example, the current government is trying to reduce sentences for rapists who marry their victims. This legislation existed in the Middle East and has been repealed in many countries, such as Lebanon and Jordan. If violence against women has never stopped, it has tripled worldwide by 2020, and Turkey is no exception to the rule.

Measures of restriction and confinement have affected the most vulnerable populations and women have been at the forefront, suffering physical and psychological violence.

March is the only month of the year in which we pause to take stock of the struggles for women's rights, which continue to diminish around the world. Withdrawing from the Istanbul Agreement in this very month has a strong symbolic value and the message the head of state sends to the Turkish people is unequivocal.

Last year, celebrations of International Women's Rights Day were banned. The 8 March marches in Istanbul were prevented with heavy security measures and the main streets of the city were closed. This ban was already preparing the ground for silencing the voices of protest.

The public debate around the Istanbul convention ended last August. Religious and conservative groups had lobbied hard against the legal arsenal as a "danger to Turkish family values".

"Our laws guarantee women's rights and our constitution. Our judicial system is dynamic and strong enough to apply new rules if necessary," tweeted Family and Social Policy Minister Zehra Zumrut Selcuk.

But political rhetoric is useless in the face of the facts. Since the beginning of the year, 78 femicides have been committed in Turkey and no measures have been taken to stop this violence.

For women, the government's message could not be clearer: men can continue to violate their rights with general impunity. "It is clear that this withdrawal will encourage the murder and rape of women," denounced the Turkish Women's Coalition.

In an interview with CNN, best-selling author Elif Shafak said that "women's rights in Turkey are in crisis and violence against women is increasing". The writer is not the only one who is concerned about and vocal about the socio-political situation in her country. On 20 March, the streets of Istanbul were invaded by thousands of demonstrators.

"Cancel your decision, implement the treaty! " Men and women chanted. But these demands were not heeded inside the country.

The Council of Europe called the withdrawal "devastating news" that "undermines the protection of women". Will Europe apply sanctions against Ankara? No such decision has been announced so far.

US President Joe Biden expressed his disappointment and concern over the decision: "Around the world, we are seeing an increase in domestic violence (...). Countries should work to strengthen and renew their commitments to end violence against women, not reject international treaties designed to protect women and hold abusers accountable."

While women's rights are violated, a male model of violence and domination is being established in Turkey.