Withdrawing from the “Istanbul Agreement” does not mean giving up the protection of women

Turkey’s Foreign Ministry said that Turkey’s withdrawal from the “Istanbul Agreement” should not be construed as a concession to combat violence against women.

This came in a statement published by the ministry on Sunday evening and reported by the official Turkish news agency, which confirms Turkey’s position of women in promoting their rights, social role and protection of the violence.

She added that the European Council Convention to stop and combat violence against women and domestic violence, known as the Istanbul Agreement, was prepared with the main objective of combating violence against women.

The statement noted that the various elements and practices included in the agreement created concern and aroused criticism among public opinion, adding: “In fact, there are discussions in many countries within the Council of Europe about the agreement, and some countries that signed the agreement. Convention have refrained from ratifying it. “

And he stressed that “Turkey’s withdrawal from the convention should not be interpreted as a concession to combat violence against women.”

The statement continued: “Our country will continue to take all necessary measures with the relevant institutions and organizations, as it did previously, to strengthen women’s rights and continue to combat violence against women more effectively.”

US President Joe Biden had commented on Turkey’s withdrawal from the “Istanbul Agreement” as “disappointing.”

Biden considered, in a statement on Sunday, that Turkey’s decision to withdraw from the “Istanbul Agreement” abruptly and without cause “profound disappointment”, indicating that this step is “a step backwards for the international movement to end to violence against women around the world. ” . “

On Saturday, Turkey withdrew from the “Istanbul Agreement,” according to a decree issued by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

The official gazette published the decree, stating that “the Turkish Republic decided to withdraw from the European Council agreement to stop and combat violence against women and domestic violence, which took place on May 11, 2011 and was ratified on February 10 2012, by a decision. From the cabinet “.

Commenting on the withdrawal, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay said in a tweet that his country “is determined to raise the status of Turkish women in society while preserving the social fabric, without the need to imitate others.”

It should be noted that the agreement entered into force in 34 countries, including Turkey, but did not enter into force in each of the countries that signed it, namely Ukraine, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Moldova, Lithuania, Liechtenstein. , Latvia, Hungary, Armenia and Bulgaria.

Russia and Azerbaijan, the two members of the European Council, refused to sign the agreement at the time it was signed by the European Union on June 13, 2017.

Some articles of the Istanbul Agreement have sparked debates about gender equality in society and damaging traditional family values ​​in Turkey. –