Every year thousands of women are dying as the result of 'male violence', and figures are increasing year by year. Whereas in 2013 237 women were killed in Turkey, in the first 10 months of 2014, this figure had risen to 255.

While the world remains silent as thousands of women are sold in slave markets by ISIS, violence against women is a global problem.

The situation in Turkey

In Turkey 25% of women are subjected to physical violence. 75% of these women suffer violence at the hands of their partners. Between 40 and 70% of women who are killed are killed by their partners.

50% of victims of rape are under 18, and 10% of these are male, while the remainder are female.

One in every 4 female children are subjected to sexual violence.

55% of children aged 5-10 are victims of incest.

40% of children aged 10-16 are victims of incest.

75% of the perpetrators of sexual violence are known to the victim.

50% of the perpetrators of incest are the father, followed by paternal uncles, elder brothers, grandfathers and maternal uncles.

57% of those who call the emergency help line are victims of physical violence, 46,9% of sexual violence, 14.6% of incest and 6% have been raped.  

Women suffer violence mostly at the hands of their partners

Research carried out in slum housing in Ankara demonstrated that 97% of women were beaten by their spouses.

Amongst middle and upper income groups 23% of women said they had been beaten by their husbands, but this figure rose to 71% when specific questions were asked regarding types of violence.

According to another study, 34 of 40 women who died as the result of violence were found at home, 20 were hanged or poisoned, and 10 were found to have been victims of domestic abuse.

According to an official study based on a survey of over 17 thousand women published in January 2009, 42% of women in Turkey were victims of domestic violence, with those between 40 and 59 having the highest proportion of victims.

Murders of women increasing every year

According to unofficial figures in 237 women were killed in Turkey in 2013, while in the first ten months of 2014 this figure was 255.
8.7% of those killed had court protection orders, while 13% were victims of 'homour killings' after refusing reconciliation. 8.7% were killed for 'rejecting sexual relations'.

112 women have also died in work accidents in 2014.

New legislation ineffective

The Law pertaining to the Protection of the Family and the Prevention of Violence against Women introduced in 2012 includes Centres to Prevent and Monitor Violence (ŞÖNİM), panic buttons, imprisonment and social assistance, but despite this cases of violence against women are increasing.
Against this backdrop of rising violence against women, Turkey was one of the first countries to sign the Istanbul Treaty of the Council of Europe, which came into force on 1 August 2014.   

This new landmark treaty opens the path for creating a legal framework at pan-European level to protect women against all forms of violence, and prevent, prosecute and eliminate violence against women and domestic violence. It also foresees the introduction of legislation outlawing forced marriage and the inclusion of women's rights on the syllabus of schools and in police training.

The Convention also establishes a specific monitoring mechanism in order to ensure effective implementation of its provisions by the Parties.