We are deeply concerned that the Turkey’s governing Justice and Development Party is poised to introduce a new law granting amnesty to rapists as long as they marry their victim. It is expected that the to-be-proposed legislation will apply to statutory rape cases, preparing grounds for the legal excusing of men who have committed statutory rape.
Implying that ‘consent’ is possible at ages below 18, from both the legal and psycho-social standpoint, is a clear breach of internationally recognized children rights’. The bill bears the immense risk of legitimizing child marriage and statutory rape, as well as child abuse and sexual exploitation. Legitimizing child marriages in the name of protecting the family’s integrity not only deprives children from their basic rights, but also sets the ground for ‘family honor killings’. Legitimizing statutory rape would ramp up violence against women. Furthermore, such a move would further increase gender-based discrimination that is already reinforced by from politicians’ speeches and actions.
National and international outrage of women had stalled a similar bill put before the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 2016. Women are once again speaking up strong and loud to protect the rights of children and women, as we have heard them throughout Turkey on January 6, 2020 chanting “child abuse cannot be forgiven”.
Any bill with the above-mentioned content is furthermore a breach of the core values of our institution, the PACE. As the Socialists, Democrats and Greens group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe we urge the Turkish authorities to drop the proposal and hereby pledge that we would be collectively standing against any possible attempt to pass such law by using all democratic and political instruments at our disposal. We stand in solidarity with all voices in Turkey fighting for the rights of children and women.
Implying that ‘consent’ is possible at ages below 18, from both the legal and psycho-social standpoint, is a clear breach of internationally recognized children rights’. The bill bears the immense risk of legitimizing child marriage and statutory rape, as well as child abuse and sexual exploitation. Legitimizing child marriages in the name of protecting the family’s integrity not only deprives children from their basic rights, but also sets the ground for ‘family honor killings’. Legitimizing statutory rape would ramp up violence against women. Furthermore, such a move would further increase gender-based discrimination that is already reinforced by from politicians’ speeches and actions.
National and international outrage of women had stalled a similar bill put before the Grand National Assembly of Turkey in 2016. Women are once again speaking up strong and loud to protect the rights of children and women, as we have heard them throughout Turkey on January 6, 2020 chanting “child abuse cannot be forgiven”.
Any bill with the above-mentioned content is furthermore a breach of the core values of our institution, the PACE. As the Socialists, Democrats and Greens group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe we urge the Turkish authorities to drop the proposal and hereby pledge that we would be collectively standing against any possible attempt to pass such law by using all democratic and political instruments at our disposal. We stand in solidarity with all voices in Turkey fighting for the rights of children and women.
