Turkish President Erdogan has decided to withdraw from international treaties aimed at preventing violence against women and domestic violence.

On the other hand, the ripples are spreading, as the secretary-general of the European Council, which led the treaty, criticized it as a "major setback."

According to the Turkish official bulletin dated 20th, President Erdogan issued an executive order that Turkey will withdraw from the treaty of the European Council calling on member states to develop legislation to prevent violence against women and domestic violence.



The treaty was signed at an international conference held in Turkey in 2011, 10 years ago, and has been ratified by more than 30 countries, mainly in Europe.



President Erdogan has not disclosed why he decided to leave, but the Islamic conservatives who support the administration said, "The treaty also requires us to protect the rights of sexual minorities, which is inconsistent with our view of the family." Was raised.

Hundreds of women rally in Istanbul

However, violence against women has become a social problem in Turkey, and hundreds of women who oppose withdrawal held a rally in Istanbul on the afternoon of the 20th and voiced protests.



One of the women who participated expressed anger, saying, "This decision is absolutely unacceptable. We should maintain the treaty and protect us women."



The European Council's Secretary-General, Peichinovich Blitch, also issued a statement, criticizing that "international efforts to protect women from violence have retreated significantly," and ripples are spreading both inside and outside the country.