Turkey, the first signatory nation to the Istanbul Convention in 2011, has declared its withdrawal from the treaty. This follows an unprecedented ‘presidential decision’ last week.
International law guides national policies through setting standards and accountability. For instance, Malaysia is guided by international laws like Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (Cedaw) and The Declaration on the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Elimination Of Violence Against Children in Asean.
The Istanbul Convention, which Turkey ratified in 2012, was an important step in advancing women’s rights. It upholds a zero-tolerance legal standard against violence and obliges member states to consider violence against women as a violation of human rights.
Women’s groups in Turkey have adopted the hashtags #IstanbulSozlesmesiYasatir and #IstanbulSozlemesiBizim in protesting this move and have pointed out that this decision was made despite gender-based violence still being pervasive in the nation. These groups have pointed out that in 2019, Turkey recorded 474 domestic violence-related murders – the highest number the nation has seen in a decade.
Women’s Aid Organisation (WAO) sees this withdrawal as heavily regressive toward achieving gender equality on domestic and international levels. It also poses immense danger to women and other gender minorities, considering that rates of femicides, honour killings and domestic violence are expected to be especially heightened in the current coronavirus pandemic.
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The convention compelled Turkey to be accountable towards the goal of gender equality and the elimination of gender-based violence through the convention’s reporting mechanisms. International laws like the Istanbul Convention and Cedaw are standards that the government, civil society and the public can refer to in improving national policies.
The WAO stands in solidarity with all women’s groups, LGBTQIA+ groups and all individuals susceptible to or who have been affected by gender-based violence in Turkey which may be exacerbated by the government’s unjust decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.
It is imperative that nations continue to recognise the severity of gender-based violence around the world. Essential mechanisms that can aid in the advancement of women’s rights and the elimination of gender-based violence nationally and internationally should not be disregarded in working toward a world free from gender violence. – WAO
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
In most countries where Governments are formed via democratic voting process WOMEN HAVE THE NUMBERS TO CONSTITUTIONALLY TAKE OVER POLITICAL POWER which can enable them to the rights which they are asking-pleading-appealing-begging for from male dominated Governments-Authorities-Companies-Religions-NGOs with assets-Society-etc.
What is not understood is WHY WOMEN ARE NOT USING THEIR NUMBERS POWER TO TAKE WHAT THEY ARE ENTITLED AND FOR OWN INTEREST AND SUPPORT OWN GENDER but continue to SUPPORT MEN BY VOTING THEM TO POSITIONS OF POWER and then complain when they are marginalised-neglected-ill-treated-iabused-lltreated?
WOMEN SHOULD EXERCISE THEIR RIGHTS and pay necessary price to get them.
Bless all