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Laws fail to stop violence against women in Turkey

While International Women’s Day on March 8 approaches, Turkish activists are drawing attention to the continuing crisis of violence against women.
An activist for women's rights argues with riot police during a protest in Istanbul January 5, 2014. The activists, which included relatives of victims of domestic violence, were halted by riot police during their march along the main pedestrian street of Istiklal in central Istanbul. REUTERS/Murad Sezer (TURKEY - Tags: POLITICS CIVIL UNREST) - RTX172YV

ISTANBUL — Turkey is failing to protect women from domestic violence, rights activists say. While International Women’s Day on March 8 approaches, women’s groups in Turkey are stepping up their criticism of the government, which they say is not doing enough to stop the beating and killing of women.

March 8 also marks the second anniversary of the adoption of a law against domestic violence passed by Turkey’s parliament in 2012. At the time, the law was hailed by the government as a “present” to women, designed to fight violence against women by making it easier for victims to receive police protection when under threat.

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