Hundreds of women protest Turkey's withdrawal from violence treaty

Hundreds of women protested in Istanbul on Saturday after President Tayyip Erdoğan pulled Turkey out of an international accord designed to protect women, prompting criticism from those who said it was necessary to combat rising domestic violence. The Council of Europe accord, called the Istanbul Convention, pledged to prevent, prosecute and eliminate domestic violence and promote equality. Turkey signed it in 2011, but femicide has surged in the country in recent years. No reason was provided for the withdrawal in the Official Gazette, where it was announced in the early hours on Saturday. But top government officials said domestic law rather than outside fixes would protect women's rights. Critics of the withdrawal have said it would put Turkey further out of step with the European Union, which it remains a candidate to join. They argue the convention, and legislation approved in its wake, need to be implemented more stringently. Turkey does not keep official statistics on femicide but the rate roughly tripled in the last 10 years, according to a group that monitors femicide. So far in 2021, 78 women have been murdered or died under suspicious circumstances, it said. For more info, please go to Subscribe to Global News Channel HERE: Like Global News on Facebook HERE: Follow Global News on Twitter HERE: Follow Global News on Instagram HERE: #Turkey #Protest #WomensRights #GlobalNews