A New Protection Method Against Violence Toward Women Is Coming! Following collaborative work by the Ministries of Family, Justice, Interior, and Health, new regulations have been introduced to stop and prevent violence against women. As part of this initiative, a set of measures has been prepared to more effectively curb violence toward women. The Ministry of Health has announced an eight-point mobilization effort focused on combating violence against women.
The eight significant measures were developed through cooperation among the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services, the Ministry of Interior, and the Ministry of Health. These measures aim to prevent and block violence against women more effectively. The eight items of the program and their details are summarized below.
What Are the New Decisions to Stop Violence Against Women?
What are the new decisions to stop violence against women? In Turkey, reports of new incidents of violence against women continue to appear. In response, the Ministries of Family, Labour and Social Services, Interior, and Health have implemented a set of decisions. The eight-point program intended to stop and prevent violence against women includes the following measures:
Compulsory Treatment Orders; Previously, treatment for husbands who are substance-dependent and perpetrate violence against their spouses was voluntary and based on warnings. Under the new approach, abusive husbands who are substance-dependent may be taken to treatment facilities by law enforcement when necessary.
Domestic Electronic Bracelet; The Ministry of Interior will expand and accelerate the rollout of the electronic monitoring bracelet system. This broader deployment aims to ensure that this deterrent measure is used more effectively and consistently.
Anger Control Measures; Earlier, restraining or removal orders were commonly used for spouses who used violence. Going forward, abusive husbands will also be offered anger management and stress-coping treatments. Men prone to violence will be referred to authorized health institutions for these therapies.
POP-UP System; Judges and prosecutors previously could not always see separate complaints and precautionary decisions taken in different provinces against the same perpetrator. Through integration with the UYAP judicial information system, a POP-UP feature will allow authorities to instantly view all prior precautionary measures and decisions associated with a suspect.
Female Judges and Prosecutors Assigned; For cases of violence against women, the HSK (Council of Judges and Prosecutors) plans to assign female judges and prosecutors, and these officials will be dedicated to such cases rather than handling unrelated proceedings.
Police Taking Statements from Survivors Will Not Be Reassigned; The Ministry of Interior has established units dedicated to combating domestic violence. Following a proposal from the Ministry of Justice, officers and commanders who receive specialized training and are assigned to these units will not be rotated out, ensuring continuity for survivors who provide statements.
Integration Between the Ministry of Health and UYAP; Although the Ministry of Health plays a role in the treatment of individuals involved in violence cases, it has not been fully integrated with the Justice Ministry’s UYAP system. Because of this gap, information about decisions and treatment processes related to survivors and perpetrators was not consistently shared. Under the new measures, the Health Ministry will be connected to UYAP so that records and care processes can be coordinated.
Psychologists to Be Appointed in Police Stations; According to information shared by the Ministry of Justice, it is deemed appropriate that psychologists work alongside police officers and social workers in stations where statements are taken, so survivors can receive immediate psychological support during the reporting process.
These measures seek to strengthen the institutional response to violence against women by combining legal, health, and social support systems. By expanding monitoring tools, ensuring continuity in trained personnel, integrating data systems, and providing therapeutic and psychological resources, the coordinated approach aims to both deter offenders and improve protection and care for survivors.