Efficiency and expediency of preventive and protective measures against domestic violence taken by the family courts in Ankara

Abstract

Domestic violence disproportionately affects women in Turkey. The fact that the state does not fulfil its positive obligations to combat domestic violence causes indirect discrimination against women, as pointed out by the European Court of Human Rights in the cases against Turkey. This article reports an analysis of cases in the Ankara family courts from the beginning of January to the end of April 2016 concerning preventive or protective measures against domestic violence, followed by qualitative research consisting of interviews with practitioners. It demonstrates that legal regulations are not executed properly. According to the quantitative data, women have been exposed to the danger of violence mostly by their husbands. Gender stereotyping norms play a determinative role in the political and judicial passivity over combating domestic violence.