By Zafer Fatih Beyaz and Cankut Tasdan
ANKARA (AA) - Turkey withdrew from a European treaty on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, according to the country’s Official Gazette early Saturday.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan signed a decree to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention that was signed in 2011.
Family, Labor and Social Services Minister Zehra Zumrut Selcuk said on Twitter that women's rights is guaranteed in domestic legislation, especially in the Constitution.
Selcuk said the Turkish legal system is “dynamic and strong enough” to implement new regulations according to need.
She said violence against women is a crime against humanity and that Turkey will resolutely continue its fight against violence with the principle of “zero tolerance.”
Communications Director Fahrettin Altun said Turkey resolutely continues its struggle to make women participate more in social, economic, political, and cultural life.
”We will always say strong women strong Turkey,” he said on Twitter.
Turkey is the first country to ratify the Council of Europe convention adopted in Istanbul. It seeks to prevent violence against women, including domestic violence, and bring an end to legal impunity for perpetrators.
*Writing by Gozde Bayar