Nordic Council calls on Turkey to re-engage with the Istanbul Convention
Demonstration
“The Istanbul Convention is more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic, wars and conflicts have triggered an increase in domestic violence and abuse against women. It is deeply worrying that Turkey is opting to withdraw from the Convention. The decision weakens the basic human rights of Turkish girls and women, depriving them of the legal protection they need against violence,” the statement said.
The Presidium and Committee are calling on Turkey to re-engage and take a clear stand in defence of the rights of women and girls.
Gender equality high on the agenda
“The Nordic Region must take a united stand against measures that violate women’s rights, regardless of where in the world they are implemented. Gender equality and women’s rights are high on the agenda for the Committee for Welfare in the Nordic Region. We consider it only natural that the Council gets involved in international issues that threaten human rights and Nordic values,” say Bente Stein Mathisen and Nina Sandberg, Chair and Vice-Chair of the Committee for Welfare in the Nordic Region.
The Committee took the initiative for the statement, which the Presidium then backed at its meeting. The Committee is one of four Nordic Council committees. Gender equality is part of its remit.
Welfare Committee initiative
Turkey announced that it was withdrawing from the Convention in March, a decision that met with protests at home and abroad.
“Democracy, the rule of law, equality and human rights, including women’s rights, are fundamental values for the Nordic Council, and we stand up for them at the international level, too. They are also values highlighted in the Nordic Council’s international strategy,” says Bertel Haarder, the President of the Nordic Council.
Both the Committee and the Presidium supported the statement unanimously.
The Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention is an important instrument in international efforts to protect women from gender-based and domestic violence. It is an international and legally binding framework that provides girls and women with legal protection against everything from persecution to rape and forced marriage.
The Istanbul Convention is more important than ever. The COVID-19 pandemic, wars and conflicts have triggered an increase in domestic violence and abuse against women. It is deeply worrying that Turkey is opting to withdraw from the Convention. The decision weakens the basic human rights of Turkish girls and women, depriving them of the legal protection they need against violence.
We are therefore calling on Turkey to re-engage and take a clear stand in defence of the rights of women and girls.
All of the Nordic countries have ratified and implemented the Istanbul Convention.
