Violence Against Women in Turkey: An Analysis of Barriers to the Effective Implementation of International Commitments

Abstract: Turkey has been an active participant in international developments when it comes to women's rights and violence against women. However, systematic and widespread violence against women persists. Claiming that deficient and/or incorrect implementation of international commitments serves as a serious obstacle to combating violence against women in Turkey, this research analyses the reasons for non-compliance. It demonstrates that the growth of conservative political ideology in Turkey and ever-increasingly employed governmental policies prioritizing family at the expense of women's safety hinder the effective implementation of international obligations, thus rendering the efforts to combat and prevent violence against women obsolete. The research concludes that the abandonment of policies and discourse that justify violence against women is critical to overcoming the barriers to the effective implementation. Furthermore, the joint action of the government and women's organizations is needed to confront the root causes of violence against women and raise awareness about the oppressive and discriminatory nature of particular practices that are justified by culture, religion or traditions.