Economics
Violence Against Women Puts Turkey in an Uncomfortable Spotlight
The decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention has increased concern about safety and female participation in the economy.
A protest in Istanbul on July 1 against Turkey’s withdrawal from the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention.
Photographer: Murad Sezer/ReutersThis article is for subscribers only.
A woman in Istanbul sent a panicked message to her lawyer: Her ex-husband was on his way to pick up their 9-year-old daughter. He threatened to kill her if she tried to stop him.
This was three days after Turkey announced in March that it was pulling out of the Istanbul Convention, a European treaty to combat violence against women. Since then, men have felt more empowered to act without fear of repercussions, says Leyla Suren, the lawyer the mother reached out to for help.