Anger, condemnation after Turkey exits treaty to protect women

Since last year, women have taken to the streets calling on the government to stick to the convention.

Turkey has sparked local and international outrage after it withdrew from the world’s first binding treaty to prevent and combat violence against women. The 2011 Istanbul Convention, signed by 45 countries and the European Union, requires governments to adopt legislation prosecuting domestic violence and similar abuse as well as marital rape and female genital mutilation. On Friday, Turkey pulled out of the treaty by a presidential decree in a shocking move for human rights activists in the country.