VAN – Lawyer Rabia Özgökçe pointed out that the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention encourages the perpetrators of violence and stated that one of her friend’s client, in prison for violence against his wife asked that ‘Istanbul Convention has been terminated. I am in prison for violence against my wife. Can I get out of prison?’

 

Turkey withdrewn from the Istanbul Convention with a Presidential Decree in one night which have been bragging about being the first signatory. The convention opened to sign on 11 May 2011 by European Council, came into force on August 1, 2014 in Turkey. Turkey was the first country that signed and ratified the convention and once again it is the first country that withdrew from the convention. 

 

With the termation from the convention, violence against women, murder and violence against the LGBTİ+ individuals increased. In the first week of withdrawal, nine women lost their live due to male violence. 

 

ROADMAP AGAINST VIOLENCE

 

While the reactions spread all over the country, Van Bar Association from the Women’s Rights Commission Board Member Lawyer Rabia Özgökçe evaluated the withdrawal from the convention. 

 

OBLIGATIONS THAT CHALLENGE THE STATE

 

Özgökçe pointed out that according to Law 6284, state has an obligations such as establishment of hotlines that works 7/24 hours and opening of women shelters in municipalities where population is more than 100 thousands, stated: "The government had to create a budget according to the Istanbul Convention but unfortunatley it wasn't done it Turkey."

 

PROBITION OF DISCRIMINATION 

 

Rabia Özgökçe pointed out that the convention states; ‘do not discriminate based on religion, language, race, sexual orientation’. This actually prohibits discrimination. Our constitution also has an article that prohibits discrimination. While this article is not challenged, they are raising hell for the same article in the İstanbul Conventions. 

 

ENCOURAGES PERPETRATORS 

 

The withdrawal from the convention encourages the perpetrators said Özgökçe and reminded what nine women were murdered afterwards and a man named Fırat Kaya in İzmit committed violence against a hearing impaired LGBTİ+ individual. Özgökçe underlined that the withdrawal from the convention makes the perpertators think that they will have impunity, which encourages them to commit these crimes.

 

 

 

Özgökçe expressed that supporters of withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention are now targeting the Law 6284 and laws which protects the rights of the women said: "These rights were not obtained over night. These are the gains of women fighting for themselves for many years. Withdrawing from it overnight risks all of our gains. They can withdraw from another law in the middle of the night. None of us are safe now."

 

Reminding the words of Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya, the AKP Vice Chair, Özgökçe said: " While the İstanbul Convention does not have any deficiencies, preparing a so called Ankara Convention can only mean that the law will be a reflection of this ideology. I don't believe the Ankara Convention will include provisions that takes the statement of the women essential or protect the LGBTI individuals.

 

 

MA / Özlem Yayan