THE RATIFICATION OF THE ISTANBUL CONVENTION BY THE EUROPEAN UNION AND ITS EFFECT ON CANDIDATE STATES: SPECIFIC REFERENCE TO TURKEY

Abstract

This research evaluates the process and consequences of the European Union’s recent ratification of the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence (Istanbul Convention). The issue of violence against women persists as a global problem, and with the Union ratifying the Convention in June 2023 and its pledge toward actions to curb gender-based violence, this issue has gained ever more traction throughout Europe and its surrounding geographies. Analysing the hurdles within the ratification process, it can be said that ratification was a progressive move for the Union. Thus discussion of the obligations of Member States, particularly those that have not ratified the Convention, is necessitated. As a country historically controversial to gender-based violence, Turkey has gained much international and national notoriety in withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention in 2021. With the recent regeneration of communications with Turkey and the EU reaffirming Turkey’s candidate status, an examination of Turkey’s standing in fulfilment of its accession obligations is warranted. Consequently, Turkey’s legal framework is analysed and future steps are discussed. The findings show that Turkey’s lack of political willingness to implement and expand the existing legal infrastructure generates potential hindrance to EU relations.