How Are Women Defending the Istanbul Convention Across Turkey?

The recent debate regarding Turkey’s possible withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention has sparked protests all over Turkey. Women and Lgbti+ have taken to the streets in defense of their basic human rights. We spoke to 5 of these organizations across the country.

Feminist Philosopher Nilgün Toker: “The current government pushes the concept of rights out of the domain of politics.”

We interviewed Prof. Dr. Nilgün Toker on the connections between the recent restrictive regulation on social media, the status change of Hagia Sophia from museum to mosque, and the current discussions to rescind from the Istanbul Convention.

Lawyer Hatice Demir: “The Convention explicitly bans discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity”

Thanks to the Istanbul Convention, in the event of a partner violation or persistent pursuit against LGBTQ+ individuals, we can get results when we apply for restraining or protection orders.

“Protecting women is not the same as protecting the family,” says Mine Akarsu from Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation.

The state, which under normal circumstances has no qualms about meddling with our private lives, anchors such cases to the protection of family in a patriarchal manner if the case involves a family.

Feminist Lawyer Canan Arın: “Istanbul Convention is the human rights convention of women.”

We used to struggle to extend our rights, and now, we are reduced to a position of trying to preserve them.

CHP Discipline Committee Member and Lawyer Tuba Torun: “To discuss withdrawing from the Convention empowers perpetrators of violence.”

We continue to stand in solidarity to defy the oppression against women.

Pin It on Pinterest