It has been 12 years since the Istanbul Convention was opened for signature in 2011. However, with Turkey’s withdrawal from the convention in 2021, the legal protection for women and LGBTI+ journalists has also disappeared.
The convention guaranteed not only individuals but also journalists reporting on violence. KAOS GL editor Oğulcan Özgenç said, “The Convention was not only a legal text for LGBTI+ journalists, it was a guarantee of survival.” He drew attention to the discrimination in the sector.
Gülfem Karataş from the TGS Women and LGBTI+ Commission stated that journalists are targeted not only for their content but also for their gender identity. According to the commission’s data, 47% of women journalists experienced violence and 63% experienced gender-based discrimination.
Nisa Sude Demirel from Evrensel stated that violence against women has increased with the revocation of the Istanbul Convention and that journalists face greater dangers in the field.
According to the March 2025 report of the Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association, 6 journalists were attacked, 5 were detained, 3 were prosecuted in 1 month. 1 journalist was arrested.
Experts call on media institutions and professional organizations to implement anti-discrimination policies in the absence of the convention. The implementation of international regulations such as collective bargaining agreements and ILO conventions in domestic law can provide a protective ground for journalists.
11.05.2025
Platform24