Erdogan Orders Review or Cancellation of Istanbul Convention

The President of Turkey and leader of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), Recep Tayyip Erdogan, has once again addressed the necessity of reviewing the Istanbul Convention, according to ermenihaber.am. Erdogan made these remarks during a meeting of the AKP's Central Executive Committee under his presidency.

“Work on it and review it (the convention). If the people want it canceled, then it should be done. If the people's demand is for its cancellation, then a corresponding decision must be made. Whatever the people say should be implemented,” said the Turkish President.

It is worth noting that Erdogan had also spoken on this topic during another party meeting in February 2020, stating that they were preparing to review the Istanbul Convention.

The Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, known as the Istanbul Convention, was named after being signed in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 11, 2011. This convention, initiated by member states of the Council of Europe, was first ratified by Turkey on March 12, 2012. As of March 2019, it had been signed by 46 countries and the European Union. The convention came into force on August 1, 2014.

The Istanbul Convention has faced sharp criticism from various political, social, and religious circles in several member countries of the Council of Europe. The Russian Federation and Azerbaijan have refused to adopt it among Council of Europe member states. Armenia is also among the countries that have not ratified the Istanbul Convention.