An Assessment of Turkey’s Legal Situation on Combating Violence against Women after Withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention

İngilizce (OpenAlex)

The issue of violence against women has emerged as a central subject in the realm of contemporary law, prompting the establishment of numerous international conventions and legal regulations aimed at addressing it. The Istanbul Convention, a pivotal international convention focused on violence against women, remains a subject of ongoing legal discourse. Notably, Turkey has distinguished itself as a pioneering nation in this regard, being the first state to both ratify and subsequently withdraw from the Convention. This article undertakes a comprehensive examination of Turkey’s withdrawal from the Convention, assessing its legality and legal ramifications. In this regard, the article f irst provides a thorough analysis of the Istanbul Convention and its significance. It then turns its attention to the legal landscape in Turkish law in the aftermath of Turkey’s withdrawal from the Convention. Within the framework of this examination, the article engages in a critical discussion of whether Turkey’s withdrawal from the Convention has resulted in a lacuna in its legal framework for combating violence against women. It is determined that withdrawal is not an effective course of action, as the national legislation does not contain provisions that go beyond those specified in the Istanbul Convention. The article recommended that Turkey should again become a party to the Convention.