Women oppose gov't efforts to withdraw from Istanbul Convention, say 'It's up to us!'

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Women in Turkey have started a social media campaign defending that women should have a say in Turkey's potential withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, which the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) are set to discuss on Aug. 18.

A social media campaign with the hashtag #KararKadınların (roughly "it's up to women") had almost 10,000 tweets at 3.35 p.m. on August 18.

Only seven out of 100 women report being subject to violence to police, and 42 percent of reports are "resolved" by reconciling the survivor's relationship with the assailant, women's rights defenders "Kadınlar Birlikte Platform" (roughly "Women Stronger Together") noted in a tweet.

AKP's central board will discuss during a Central Executive Board (MYK) meeting whether Turkey should withdraw from Istanbul Convention, officially "The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence."

Suggestions from AKP officials that Turkey withdraw from the treaty had been supported from President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, causing nationwide outrage and protests, and even gaining support from western celebrities.

While there have been reports about an amendment to the convention instead of a full withdrawal, women have shared the content of the fourth item on the list.

"The implementation of the provisions of this Convention by the Parties, in particular measures to protect the rights of victims, shall be secured without discrimination on any ground such as sex, gender, race, colour, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, association with a national minority, property, birth, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, state of health, disability, marital status, migrant or refugee status, or other status," is the Fourth Article in Istanbul Convention.

AKP officials, conservative opinion leaders and religious figures often attack this article on the grounds that it "encourages homosexuality" because it grants protection to persons of all genders.

The platform also noted that only eight out of 1,000 violent offenders are convicted, calling for more women's shelters and resources to help women who experience domestic violence.

Adding that prosecutor's offices get involved with a mere four percent of lawsuits on violence, the platform said only 21 cases end in a conviction.

Noting that the number of unemployed women rose by 52 percent between 2014 and 2019, the platform added that women are vulnerable in their financial security, as well as in terms of their physical safety.

"Our rights aren't up for debate," the platform said.

'Everyone should support women's cause'

Women's rights organization Eşitlik İçin Kadın Platformu (EŞİK) made an official statement urging an "immediate end to the debate around Istanbul Convention."

The platform said that any outcome to come from the AKP session on a potential withdrawal will allow Turkey to "seem to remain in the convention without enforcing its requirements."

"So the government will tell the world that it can go on ignoring men killing women, hurting them physically and psychologically, and stripping them of their human rights," EŞİK said in an official statement.