On November 25, women across Turkey mobilized to mark the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. In nearly every city, women’s groups and activists took to the streets to protest the alarming rise in violence against women. However, their right to demonstrate was met with severe restrictions, detentions, and police violence.
Protests Across Turkey
From Istanbul to smaller cities, women organized marches and rallies, raising their voices against femicide, domestic abuse, and gender-based violence. Their message was clear: enough is enough. But the protests were met with heavy-handed responses from authorities. Police banned demonstrations in Istanbul and several other cities, resulting in widespread clashes.
Numerous women were detained during these protests, with reports of police using excessive force to break up gatherings. Despite this, many women defied the bans and continued to rally, holding press conferences and issuing public statements on the streets.
Focus on Femicides and the Istanbul Convention
One of the key messages of this year’s demonstrations was the rising number of femicides in Turkey. Women’s rights organizations highlighted the increasing violence faced by women and demanded concrete measures to protect them.
Another major point of contention was Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, a landmark international treaty aimed at combating violence against women. In 2021, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan unilaterally pulled Turkey out of the agreement with a midnight decree, sparking national and international outrage. Protesters called for the reinstatement of the convention, arguing that its absence leaves women even more vulnerable.
A Continuing Struggle
Despite the risks of arrest and the threat of police violence, Turkish women remain undeterred in their fight for safety and equality. Their protests serve as a stark reminder of the growing crisis of violence against women in Turkey and the urgent need for systemic change.
As women across the globe continue to call for an end to gender-based violence, the events of November 25 in Turkey underscore the resilience of those fighting for their basic human rights, even in the face of severe opposition.
