Violence against women in Turkey is no longer a series of isolated incidents; it has become a systematic and deeply rooted crisis shaking the country’s social fabric. Data from women’s organizations and human rights groups reveal that violence is not only spreading but increasingly normalized. Between 2020 and 2024, 1,669 femicides and 907 suspicious deaths of women were recorded. In just the first five months of 2025, 131 women were killed, while another 178 deaths, often linked to child sexual abuse, harassment, rape, and physical violence, were registered as “suspicious.”

After the withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention

One of the turning points in the rise of violence against women was Turkey’s withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in 2021. This convention aimed not only to punish violence but also to prevent it and protect the victims. Following the withdrawal, the state’s responsibilities were narrowed, Law No. 6284 was rendered ineffective, and protective-preventive mechanisms were either neglected or applied arbitrarily. As a result, women seeking justice were increasingly alienated from institutional support.

The frequent application of sentence reductions to perpetrators on the grounds of “good conduct” or “provocation” effectively encourages male violence. The judiciary’s principle of impartiality often morphs into “male justice” when it comes to women. Many women lose their lives despite having protection orders. This chain of negligence reveals the systematic violation of women’s right to life.

We define these murders as femicide

Suzan Işbilen, Chair of the ROSA Women’s Association, evaluated the rise in femicides and emphasized the following: “We now define violence and murders targeting women as femicide. Unfortunately, we sometimes witness multiple murders committed in different provinces on the same day. There are multiple reasons behind the increase in femicides. The patriarchal system, which was established to consolidate the power of central civilization, has excluded women from social, economic, and political life. This process marked the beginning of women’s subjugation. However, the most fundamental factor that paves the way for violence and mass killings against women is the gender inequality perpetuated by every form of power, rooted in the same male-dominated mentality produced by central civilization to ensure its own security.

Gender, in other words, the imposed and learned behaviors assigned to women and men, deepens traditional and patriarchal roles and causes women to be seen as secondary, making them more vulnerable to male violence. Gender inequality has given rise to a mindset that views women as property and seeks to exert control over them. Today, the government’s authoritarian and sexist policies are playing a direct role in the rising number of femicides.”

Suzan Işbilen said that the main driver behind the rise in femicides is the widespread impunity and judicial leniency granted to perpetrators. She continued: “The lack of adequate punishment and the failure of the legal system to deliver deterrent sentences in cases of violence against women reinforce the mindset among perpetrators that ‘I will get away with this.’ The lengthy nature of legal proceedings also undermines trust in the justice system, leaving victims feeling even more isolated. This policy of impunity, and the persistence of a male-biased judiciary in cases of femicide, also contributes to the rise in suspicious deaths of women. The normalization of hate speech against women on social media, and the growing discourse that demonizes women, serve to justify violence and breed societal indifference. Another crucial factor that must be underlined is the special war policies waged against women in Kurdistan during the ongoing conflict over the past half-century. These policies have undoubtedly contributed to the increase in femicides.

Article 6284 of the Civil Code, along with the Istanbul Convention, provided the only real legal protections for women and children. After Turkey withdrew from the Istanbul Convention, those protections were weakened. If Article 6284 were applied effectively, it could serve as a powerful deterrent against male violence. Most of the women who are murdered are killed by men from whom they were trying to separate. And many had already applied to the courts for protection but were left unprotected. Despite these failures, conservative elements are now proposing to repeal this article, as even its mere existence disturbs their mindset.

Women often avoid going to state-run shelters because they feel unsafe. In shelters affiliated with the Ministry of Family and Social Policies, the staff often act with traditional patriarchal attitudes, which leads to further distress for women. As a result, women prefer shelters run by municipalities, where they experience fewer restrictions and more support.

Throughout history, women's struggle, especially as part of the broader human rights struggle, has continued without interruption. Women no longer accept the idea that they should submit to a male-dominated mindset or be men’s subordinates. As this struggle has grown, so has the organization of women. Today, there is a more systematic, conscious, and collective form of resistance. Across different identities and languages, both in Turkey and abroad, women have built strong networks of solidarity and joint action. These gains have strengthened the women’s movement and led to concrete achievements. It is precisely because women’s struggle disturbs those in power that the state is now attempting to glorify traditional family structures and push women back into the home by declaring a so-called ‘Year of the Family’ and promoting early marriage and multiple children. These efforts aim to imprison women within four walls again.

The phrase ‘one becomes human through human rights’ is only realized when freedom is won. That is why women’s struggle is a struggle for existence, social belonging, and liberation. Every sacrifice and every step taken in this fight is for freedom. The fight for women’s equality will continue. Much more must be done to ensure equal rights and combat gender-based discrimination. We must prioritize education in this area and raise social awareness. Since women’s labor remains undervalued globally, we must continue to pursue gender equality. While many legal reforms have been achieved through struggle, the most vital gains, such as Article 6284 and the Istanbul Convention, must be protected, and new legislation must be advanced by strengthening the women’s movement. Organizing and deepening women’s solidarity is the greatest form of resistance.”

Femicide statistics from 2020 to 2024 reveal alarming reality

According to data taken from the press and women’s rights organizations, a total of 1,669 women were murdered in Turkey between 2020 and 2024, while 907 women lost their lives under suspicious circumstances. The first five months of 2025 paint an even darker picture:

* In 2020, 332 women were murdered, and 110 women died under suspicious circumstances.

* In 2021, there were 311 femicides and 181 suspicious deaths.

* In 2022, 348 femicides and 206 suspicious deaths were recorded.

* In 2023, 320 women were murdered, while 189 deaths were labeled suspicious.

* In 2024, 358 women were murdered, and 221 suspicious deaths were documented.

* In the first five months of 2025, 131 women were murdered, 70 women were harassed, 122 children were subjected to abuse, 261 women suffered physical violence, and four women were raped. Meanwhile, 178 women died under suspicious circumstances, and at least 26 children were murdered.

Women’s rights activists emphasize that these figures represent only the cases reported in the media, and that, in reality, many more incidents are either covered up or never make it into official judicial records.