European Union (EU) High Representative for Foreign Affairs Josep Borrell called on Turkey to abandon its decision to withdraw from the Council of Europe's Istanbul Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women. A message about this appeared on the website of the EU External Relations Service.
According to him, Turkey's actions caused “deep regret and misunderstanding” in Brussels. The head of European diplomacy expressed the hope that Istanbul will reconsider its decision and once again return to the convention, which is “a fundamental element of human rights, peace, security and equality in the 21st century.”
Turkey withdrew its signature on the relevant document on March 20, while the country's authorities promised to fight for women's rights in accordance with “their traditional values.”
The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence was adopted in 2011. It became the first European agreement to combat domestic violence. Turkey was the first to ratify this document, followed by 33 more countries, Russia is not among them. The convention criminalizes psychological, physical and sexual violence, forced abortion, marriage and sterilization, and sexual harassment.
