Turkish gov't voices readiness to listen to views of all women's organizations about Istanbul Convention
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has said that its ready to listen to the views of all women's organizations about the Istanbul Convention, which aims to combat violence against women and from which the AKP seeks to withdraw. "We don't see a contradiction between protecting women and protecting family. We will neither abandon protecting women nor the family," AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik said.
Duvar English
The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) has said that its ready to listen to the views of all women's organizations about the Istanbul Convention, which aims to combat violence against women and from which the AKP seeks to withdraw.
"We are open to the views of all women's organizations. We evaluate all the opinions that are put forward in a nice approach," AKP spokesperson Ömer Çelik said on Aug. 18 following the party's Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting.
Çelik said that the works on the Istanbul Convention are ongoing, adding that the government follows opinions from all sides.
"We don't see a contradiction between protecting women and protecting family. We see that some approaches stress protecting women, but not the family and vice versa," Çelik said.
Claiming that the AKP is Turkey's biggest women's political movement and that it took "revolutionary steps" on women's rights, Çelik noted that the government "facilitated" it for women to be on the public sphere.
"We're saying that our aim is to evaluate criticism, support and concerns on the issue and that our approach is to protect and strengthen both women and family," he said.
"We will neither abandon protecting women nor the family," Çelik added.