Protecting Women from Violence in Turkey: The Contentious Decision to Withdrawing from Istanbul Convention

Abstract

Abstract The Turkish President formally announced the decision to withdraw from the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (the Istanbul Convention) on 20 March 2021. This announcement drew serious intra-national and international reaction. Despite the critiques and protests, the denunciation of the treaty became legally effective by 01 July 2021. This study aims to shed some light on this development mainly from an international law and constitutional law perspective. In this regard, first, the denunciation from an international treaty in general and the Convention in particular will be given from an international law point of view. Next, the national legal outlook will be presented mainly from a constitutional standpoint. Here particular emphasis will be on the new government system in effect since 2018, and the presidential decrees and presidential decisions as important tools of this system. Finally, the study will demonstrate the current situation and project future possibilities.