Women from opposition parties apply to Council of State against termination of İstanbul Convention

Photo: DEVA Party

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Women's branches of the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) and the Democracy and Progress (DEVA) Party have applied to the Council of State, demanding the annulment of the presidential decision withdrawing Turkey from the İstanbul Convention on combatting violence against women.

President and Justice and Development Party (AKP) Chair Recep Tayyip Erdoğan abruptly issued the decision in question for the "termination of the contract with regards to Turkey" on March 20.

The legal validity of the move has been questioned as critics say a parliamentary decision is needed to exit the convention as it was ratified by the parliament in 2011.

Erdoğan, however, says it's under his authority to terminate the convention, citing a previous presidential decree.

Women have held many demonstrations in protest of the decision and taken legal action against it.

"Null and void"

Joined by the heads of 81 provincial chairs of her party's women's branches and Central Executive Committee members, CHP Women's Branch Chair Aylin Nazlıaka held a press conference in front of the CHP Headquarters in Ankara, the capital.

"Our stance is very clear: This decision is null and void," she remarked.

"There is a smear campaign with false statements about the convention," saying that the convention does not "encourage homosexuality" as claimed by those who oppose it but protects the rights of everyone, as well as LGBTI+s.

"They say the vast majority of the public is unhappy with the convention, they want it to be annulled. Contrary to this claim, there is high public support for the İstanbul Convention. According to a study in July 2020, 64 of the respondents were in favor of the convention," said Nazlıaka.

"They say men are jailed without evidence, just upon statements by women. However, the only order that is given by women's statements is a protection order, there are no imprisonment orders given upon a statement.

"They say the convention increases divorces. There are no articles in the convention encouraging marriage or divorce. The primary reason for divorces is domestic violence.

"They say violence has increased because of the convention. However, the convention has not increased violence, it has made it visible.

"They say the convention is against our traditions, culture, it doesn't suit us. However, violence against women can't be and shouldn't be a tradition on this land.

"They say the convention women can have protection as they like because of the convention. However, 41,383 women's applications for protection were rejected in 2019. Thousands of women were subjected to violence and killed because of not being provided protection."

"An unlawful decision"

Women from the DEVA Party also gathered in front of the party's headquarters in Ankara and then marched to the Council of State to file a case against the president's decision.

Reading out a statement in front of the court, the women said, "The İstanbul Convention is not a threat for the institution of the family or the traditional family structure. It is a convention that protects women and girls who are subjected to domestic violence and that eliminates violence from becoming life-long torture and destiny.

"Our expectation from the Council of State officials is to give a decision without being under any influence ... and for all women in Turkey. We believe that Turkey is a state of law." (EMK/VK)