MORE than 130 women trade unionists have demanded an end to femicide in Turkey in an open letter to the leaders of every trade union in Britain.

The letter calls on the general secretaries to demand action to stop the abuse of women in Turkey, where femicide cases are rising rapidly amid a huge surge in domestic violence.

Abuse of women by police and military personnel has also increased, leading to protests by Turkish women’s groups, trade unions and female politicians. 

Several protests have been attacked by police officers and women have been arrested and beaten for protesting.

Kurdish women have been particularly targeted by police and military forces, with lawyers and politicians defending the perpetrators of the violence.

Meanwhile, the Turkish government is considering withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, a Council of Europe treaty which commits signatory governments to support women experiencing male violence.

The letter calls on trade unions to demand that Boris Johnson’s government raises concerns with Ankara, send solidarity messages to sister unions and seek an urgent meeting with officials to press Turkey to maintain support for the Istanbul Convention.

Among the signatories to the letter is Unison national executive member Maggie Cook, who said: “As women trade unionists, we are responding to calls for support from sisters in Turkey and Kurdistan, where the situation for women has been getting worse. 

“This is an issue in the home, in the community and in workplaces.

“It is worsened by statements from Turkish politicians that tell women to stay at home and defend perpetrators of male violence.”