Feminism and international relations: The impact of the Istanbul Convention on Turkey's foreign policy

Feminism is an ideological movement that advocates for the equality of women and men in all areas. It is categorized into various types such as liberal, Marxist, radical, socialist, and postmodern feminism. While each type emerged with the aim of achieving gender equality, they differ in the rights and priorities they advocate for. Postmodern feminism, being the latest development in feminist thought, focuses on the concept of gender. Gender refers to the roles attributed by society to individuals based on their biological sex from the moment they are born. In this context, women, in particular, are more likely to face discrimination. Various regulations have been established at both national and international levels to address these inequalities. One such regulation is the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, commonly known as the Istanbul Convention. The convention was signed by Turkey without reservation on May 11, 2011, the day it was opened for signature. Turkey was one of the first signatories of the convention. However, this international regulation aimed at preventing violence against women and domestic violence became a topic of debate among conservative segments in Turkey. Criticisms were made based on the argument that the terms "gender" and "sexual orientation" mentioned in the text would disrupt the Turkish family structure, and as a result, Turkey withdrew from the convention in 2021, ten years later. The withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention was met with criticism from foreign states and international organizations. In this context, Turkey lost its international reputation by withdrawing from the Istanbul Convention, which was a significant step in women's rights.