PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
Increase in violence against women in Turkey (9 November 2020)

That this House is extremely concerned about the eroding of women’s rights in Turkey and notes the alarming increase of reported assaults and homicide against women over the past year; finds it concerning that that increase has occurred during a global pandemic which disproportionately impacts women economically; is concerned about the growing rhetoric of the Turkish Government and their officials including attacking women’s rights and threatening withdrawal from the Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention to tackle violence against women; fears that that rhetoric is leading to an acceptance of violence against women; notes that the abuse of women by security personnel is particularly a feature against Kurdish women and women active in the women’s movement, trade unions and opposition political parties; encourages Turkey to implement the four pillars of prevention, protection, prosecution and coordinated policies underpinned in the Istanbul Convention; shows solidarity to those protesting in Turkey to protect women’s rights and end the violence against women in their country; and calls on the UK Government to use its international influence to encourage the Turkish regime to end its dangerous rhetoric and fully implement the Istanbul Convention.

Sponsored by:
Joanna Cherry (Scottish National Party)