THE INSTAGRAM “CHALLENGE ACCEPTED” TREND 

In July 2020 a “challenge accepted” trend, in which women posted black-and-white photos of themselves with the hashtag “challenge accepted” took Instagram by storm. The challenge originated in Turkey, initiated by women's rights campaigners in response to the murder of 27-year old Pınar Gültekin by her ex-boyfriend. With 474 women murdered in 2019 alone, it is clear that honour killings and violence against women are deeply rooted in Turkey and socio-economic deprivations and underdevelopment within the country certainly play a role. In addition, Turkey’s patriarchal issues in undeveloped rural regions are cause for concern, alongside issues resulting from fundamentalism, with persons guilty of honor-related crimes attempting to justify their actions on religious grounds. Despite the pressing need for change, the meaning of the challenge accepted trend has failed to resonate with the international community, and it’s underlying objectives have been largely overlooked.

According to data presented by We Will Stop Femicide, an organisation that tracks domestic and gender-based violence against women in Turkey, there has been an increase in the rate of killings in the country within the last decade. Data suggests that over 2,000 women were murdered between 2008 to 2017 and similar figures have been confirmed by Turkish law enforcement. A 2009 study on prevention strategies reported that 42% of Turkish women aged between 15 and 60 years have suffered from physical or sexual violence by their partners. This problem intensifies every year, and is connected to Turkey’s inadequate institutional capacity to assist victims or provide temporary protection to those in risk. Worse yet, the figures are expected to be alarmingly high in 2020 due to social changes resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Despite the need for change, the government in Turkey has failed to address the issues concerned. As such, Turkish women rallied against domestic violence by taking to the streets in protest in August 2020. The widespread mobilisation of protestors emerged more persistently in the western coastal cities, where they were met with violent crackdowns. Police intervention resulted in the arrest of 10 women in Izmir who had participated in a sit-in protest. Protestors were illegally detained, beaten, and abused. This authoritarian response illustrates the broader societal problem, as momentous cultural, political and societal change is required to combat Turkey’s issue with femicide.  

 PRESIDENT ERDOĞAN AND THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION 

The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence(Istanbul Convention) was adopted in 2014 to combat the growing issue of femicide. One of the key objectives of the Convention is to “increase understanding of the issue of violence against women and its consequences.” In particular, Articles 13 and 14 are key provisions in respect of addressing Turkey’s problem with femicide in rural areas. These provisions endorse awareness raising as well as taking necessary steps in education on non-violent conflict resolution in interpersonal relationships. 

The Parliamentary Assembly of the European Council (PACE) has suggested that the Istanbul Convention has had a momentous impact as a legislative policy standard in several countries, and in raising awareness amongst victims of gender based violence. Nevertheless, the Convention has not been implemented effectively, and worse yet, it’s future in Turkey is uncertain. On 13 August 2020 Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan signalled his intention to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention. His conservative Justice and Development Party (AKP) has attempted to regress legislative provisions, arguing that it threatens traditional family values. In light of Turkey’s alarming problem with gender based violence, this development is highly concerning at a time when the Istanbul Convention should rather be implemented more vigorously.

President Erdoğan has garnered support from powerful religious lobby groups that have actively petitioned for changes to the Istanbul Convention. Religious fundamentalists in Turkey have depicted the Convention as a threat that violates Article 41 of the Turkish Constitution, which safeguards the unity of the family. Ultimately, President Erdoğan's actions have curtailed the fundamental rights won by Turkish women, and as parliament debates the future of the Convention’s application in Turkey, the future of those rights remains unclear.  

MORE MUST BE DONE 

Turkey was the first member of the Council of Europe to sign the Istanbul Convention. Although this was perceived as a positive step given the country's problem with femicide, President Erdoğan and his party have failed to uphold the principles enshrined in the Convention. 

Various crucial steps must be taken to address Turkey’s problem with femicide. Awareness-raising campaigns and education would ensure the world to be better informed of the different forms of violence that women regularly experience in Turkey. Education is important particularly in regions where honour killings are more common and both formal education and training should be implemented alongside special awareness and consciousness raising programs to change male dominated views.  

To address the greater issue of gender based violence, it is imperative that domestic and international pressure is applied to safeguard the Istanbul Convention, and to challenge the notion that local values and traditions take precedence over international law obligations. Moreover, the Turkish people must themselves spread greater awareness on the present issues, and stand in solidarity with women’s rights campaigners in the country. A poll conducted by Istanbul Economics Research on 27 June 2020 reported that 51% of respondents were unaware of the provisions of the Istanbul Convention. 

With this said, it is vital that more transparent initiatives should be applied both in Turkey and across the world. As the recent “challenge accepted” trend effectively demonstrated how easily an awareness initiative can lose meaning, the international community must in turn respond with greater urgency. It is crucial that while the future of the application of the Istanbul Convention in Turkey hangs in the balance, greater momentum than ever should be built in addressing the problem of femicide. 

Milad is a Legal Advisor at the Ministry of Justice UK, currently completing his training at Willesden Magistrates Court. He is also a Strategy & Engagement Director at CASEDO. He received his Call to the Bar in November 2019, aspiring to forge a career as a barrister. He is interested in socio-economic matters concerning the Middle East, as well as justice law & history. 

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