The Turkish State Council, which plays the role of the highest administrative court, has finally recognized the decision of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to withdraw from the Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention of Domestic Violence, known as the Istanbul Convention, as legal.
The court's decision means that Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention is final and legally binding.
On March 20, 2021, Erdogan's decree on withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention was published, which entered into force three months later. Turkish courts have previously dismissed complaints against this decree more than once.
How to explain the decision
The decision to withdraw from the convention in Ankara was explained by the fact that it allegedly encourages violence, undermining family structures. Opponents also argued that the agreement and legislation adopted after its implementation should be implemented more strictly.
Turkey was the first country to adopt the convention
Turkey is the first country to ratify the Council of Europe convention adopted in Istanbul. The purpose of the Convention was to prevent violence against women, including domestic violence, and to end legal impunity for perpetrators.
What is the Istanbul Convention
The Istanbul Convention is an international legally binding instrument covering issues related to violence against women. The agreement was signed by 46 countries of the world and the European Union. At the same time, more than 30 countries have ratified the document.
On July 18, 2022, Ukraine officially handed over the documents on the ratification of the Istanbul Convention to the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, Bjorn Berg, and thus completed the ratification process.
