Thread by @StefSimanowitz

1/. At a time when many countries are starting to try & find ways of combating violence against women, #Turkey has just pulled out of #IstanbulConvention

This is the Convention on violence against women

Ironic that it is named after the city in #Turkey. theguardian.com/world/2021/mar…

2/. #Turkey’s withdrawal from the #IstanbulConvention is deeply worrying, coming at time when #COVID19 measures/lockdowns have led to a spike in reports of violence

Many women & girls trapped at home with their abusers or unable to easily access safety #VAWG #istanbulsoezlesmesi

https://twitter.com/AnnaMBlus/status/1373224083266150403

3/ Turkey’s withdrawal from the #IstanbulConvention will have disastrous consequences for millions of women & girls & to organizations providing vital support to survivors of sexual assault & domestic violence

#Turkey should reconsider this awful decision
amnesty.org/en/latest/news…

4/. The govt say #Turkey withdrew from the #IstanbulConvention b/c it was “hijacked by a group of people attempting to normalize homosexuality” & "promote LGBT propaganda within the Turkish family structure"

@DilaraGurcu explains why this is so dangerous.

https://twitter.com/DilaraGurcu/status/1373951796872364044

5/. So, according to the Turkish govt, the threat to “family values” doesn’t come from domestic violence against women but from the LGBT community

Over the past 78 days, 77 women were murdered in #Turkey.
#IstanbulConventionSavesLives #istanbulsoezlesmesi

“We call on Turkish authorities to immediately reverse its retrogressive decision to withdraw from the #IstanbulConvention, and to take action to protect and promote the rights of LGBTI people, women and girls" @esthermajor @amnesty
amnesty.org/en/latest/news…

7/. #Turkey’s decision to withdraw from the #IstanbulConvention, has sparked massive protests across the country

So far the protests have been permitted, but this footage (by @frausimsek) of protesters in Istanbul ystdy surrounded by police is worrying.

8/. Much of the right-wing opposition to the #IstanbulConvention has focused on its LGBTI-inclusive language

It is also under attack in other countries that use “moral values” to rollback rights (eg Hungary, Croatia & Poland)

ISTAND for the ISTANBUL convention
#IStand4Istanbul

9/. Whilst most countries are reforming their laws to protect women's rights, #Poland is also considering withdrawing from the #IstanbulConvention & six EU countries still haven't ratified it
#Hungary
#Slovakia
#Bulgaria
#CzechRepublic
#Latvia
#Lithuania!
balkaninsight.com/2021/03/15/pol…

10/. The #IstanbulConvention has one task & one task only, which is to prevent violence against women & domestic violence.

Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention is a problem for women's rights & gender equality.
#IstanbulConventionSavesLives ✊

11/. More protests planned for tmw against #Turkey’s withdrawal from the #IstanbulConvention - women & LGBT community have vowed to "continue to resist"

We expect big demos this weekend

@amnesty & will be there - DM 4 interiew
#istanbulsoezlesmesiyasatır

https://twitter.com/KadinCinayeti/status/1375001119932489733

12/. This weekend, big protests are expected across #Turkey as women mobilize to demand that authorities reverse their dangerous decision to withdraw from the #IstanbulConvention on violence against women @MuizNils👇

@amnesty/@aforgutu will be there!
#İstanbulSozlesmesiYasatir

Today, thousands of women will be on the streets to demand #Turkey reverse their dangerous decision to withdraw from the #IstanbulConvention on violence against women

@amnesty will be at the protests

The world will be watching
#istanbulsozlesmesiyasatir amnesty.org/en/latest/news…

“We’re here to say that the #IstanbulConvention is ours, & we won’t give up our rights or our lives!”

Dressed in purple, women are gathering in their thousands in Istanbul’s Kadıköy Sq & across #Turkey.
#istanbulsozlesmesiyasatir
#istanbulsozlesmesibizim

For live updates & footage from the ground, follow the Amnesty Turkey team (@aforgutu & @tarikbeyhan)👇

They are also available for media interviews
#IstanbulConventionSavesLives #IstanbulConvention #İstanbulSoezlesmesiYasatır #IStand4Istanbul

https://twitter.com/amnestypress/status/1375786186640400387

“Today’s demonstrations are over but the protest has just begun”

Women & #LGBTI+ communities will continue their fight to reverse #Turkey’s decision to withdraw from the #IstanbulConvention.
#IstanbulConventionSavesLives
#istanbulsozlesmesiyasatir

In #Poland, MPs just voted to postpone a decision on replacing the #IstanbulConvention with a ‘family rights’ treaty that would restrict gender equality & LGBTI rights

The threat has not gone away

Male #ViolenceAgainstWomen must be taken seriously.

https://twitter.com/hillarymargo/status/1376880138139361283

“Autocrats are afraid of free & independent women

They’re afraid of societies where women can freely decide over their bodies & lives

They’re afraid of the strength of women’s & LGBTI movements

That's why they hate the #IstanbulConvention” @TerryReintke

"I am deeply worried that #Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention. This is about protecting women & children against violence"

European Commission president, @vonderleyen speaking after a meeting she & @CharlesMichel had with Pres Erdogan ystdy.
#İstanbulSoezlesmesiYasatır

“Ehm!”

At the meeting with #Turkey’s President Erdoğan, European Commission’s president, @vonderleyen was “surprised” after being left without a chair & consigned to the sofa

Women’s rights & #Turkey’s #IstanbulConvention withdrawal were on agenda.

As #Turkey pulls out of the #IstanbulConvention on violence against women, campaigners in Amsterdam placed 70 pairs of red shoes in Dam Platz

Each pair of shoes symbolises one of the 70 women killed as a result of domestic violence in Turkey since the start of 2021. #femicide

On the eve of tmw’s global day of action marking the 10th anniversary of the #IstanbulConvention combating violence against women - six weeks before #Turkey is due to quit the Treaty - some good news from #Liechtenstein today 👏 #IstanbulConventionSavesLives @amnesty @aforgutu

https://twitter.com/MFA_LI/status/1390679871056195591

“At this decisive moment, Council of Europe members should demonstrate they are serious about prioritizing the safety & well-being of all women & girls by committing to and carrying out the #IstanbulConvention”

#THREAD by @hrw’s @hillarymargo👇#IstanbulConventionSavesLives

https://twitter.com/hillarymargo/status/1391657003731275783

Ironically - this attempt to undermine the #IstanbulConvention - is backfiring dramatically

A few months ago, few people knew about this Treaty or recognised its importance

But today, it is spoken - a tmw - it is topping news agendas #istanbulsoezlesmesi