Biden deems Turkey's withdrawal from Istanbul Convention 'deeply disappointing'

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U.S. President Joe Biden called President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's move to withdraw Turkey from an international accord designed to protect women from violence "deeply disappointing," saying on March 21 that it was a step backward in efforts to end violence against women.

"Turkey’s sudden and unwarranted withdrawal from the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention, is deeply disappointing," Biden said in a statement. 

"Around the world, we are seeing increases in the number of domestic violence incidents, including reports of rising femicide in Turkey, the first nation to sign the convention. Countries should be working to strengthen and renew their commitments to ending violence against women, not rejecting international treaties designed to protect women and hold abusers accountable," he also said. 

Erdoğan's sudden withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention prompted outrage in Turkey and was condemned internationally. 

Biden, who still hasn't called Erdoğan despite assuming his post two months ago, deemed the withdrawal, "a disheartening step." 

"This is a disheartening step backward for the international movement to end violence against women globally," he said.