Turkey withdrew early Saturday from a landmark European treaty protecting women from violence that it was the first country to sign 10 years ago and that bears the name of its largest city. AdvertisementThe Istanbul Convention states that men and women have equal rights and obliges state authorities to take steps to prevent gender-based violence against women, protect victims and prosecute perpetrators. Rights groups say violence against and killing of women is on the rise in Turkey but the interior minister called that a “complete lie” Saturday. Advocacy group Women’s Coalition Turkey said the withdrawal from a human rights agreement was a first in Turkey. Some lawyers claimed Saturday that the treaty is still active, arguing the president cannot withdraw from it without the approval of parliament, which ratified the Istanbul Convention in 2012.

Source: Los Angeles Times March 20, 2021 17:34 UTC