Title : Istanbul Convention on Violence against Women

Date : Nov 22, 2021

Description :

GS I & GS II

 

Topic à Women Empowerment & International Organizations:

 

• Context:

 

• Hundreds of women are murdered every year in Turkey, and popular hashtags on social media and street rallies have become all too common.
• This month, a particularly heinous murder has sparked widespread outrage over the government's alleged failure to prevent gender-based violence, according to women's rights groups.
• Activists claim that by withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention, a historic Council of Europe agreement from 2011 defining how to secure women's safety, Turkey has abandoned a path that it

was the first country to sign.

 

 

• Background:

 

• Turkey became the first country to ratify the Istanbul Convention on November 24, 2011 and to adopt it into local legislation on March 8, 2012.

 

• Why is it that withdrawal is being chastised:

 

• Turkey has faced harsh criticism from a variety of sectors, resulting in nationwide rallies.
• Despite the country's unacceptably high rates of violence and femicide, the country has withdrawn from the pact.
• In the Global Gender Gap Report 2021, the country is ranked 133rd out of 156 countries.
• According to UN Women data, 38% of Turkish women experience abuse from a partner at some point in their lives.
• There are no official records of femicides kept by the Turkish government.

 

What are the causes for Turkey's decision to leave:

 

• According to the report, the conference denigrates traditional family structures, encourages divorce, and promotes acceptance of LGBTQ people in society.
• It also claimed that it has sufficient local laws to defend women's rights.

 

• Concerns:

 

• Domestic violence against women and girls has become more prevalent over the world as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
• People are also concerned that Turkish women's basic rights and safeguards may now be jeopardised.

 

• What is the Istanbul Convention, and why is it important:

 

• The Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence is another name for it.
• The treaty is the first legally enforceable agreement aimed at preventing and combating violence against women in the globe.
• Domestic abuse, rape, sexual assault, female genital mutilation (FGM), so-called honour-based violence, and forced marriage are all covered by this extensive legal framework.
• When a government ratifies the Convention, it commits to upholding it.

 

• On April 7, 2011, the Council of Europe's Committee of Ministers approved the treaty.
• When it comes to combating violence against women, the Convention establishes basic standards that states must adhere to.

 

• Prelims Hot-Link:

 

• When did it get signed?
• Which country is the first to sign the convention?
• Which country just opted to leave the convention?
• What exactly is the Council of Europe?

 

• Source à https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/18/turkey-femicide-istanbul-convention-womens-rights

Tags : women safety, women empowerment