Turkey: New Domestic Violence Law
Wednesday, April 4, 2012 1:45 PM
As of March 2012, Turkey has adopted a new domestic violence law: Law No. 6248, the Law to Protect the Family and Prevent Violence against Women. In cooperation with the Council of Europe Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence against Women and Domestic Violence, the new law seeks to protect women, children, and family members from domestic violence and stalking and to provide services such as shelters, financial aid, and psychological and legal guidance services. The law calls for the establishment of Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centers to act as shelters for victims, to design and implement programs on violence prevention, and to collect and analyze data on preventive cautionary imprisonment and sentences. Police officers are now authorized to enforce protection as soon as the victim needs it without lengthy court processes. Additionally, those who violate a protection order will automatically spend three days in prison. The law also extends protection to any people who are considered a family member whether they live or do not live in the same house.
This law replaces the 2007 amended Law No. 4230 on the Protection of the Family.