Protests are taking place in major Turkish cities following the decision by President RecepTayyipErdoğan to withdraw the country from the Istanbul Convention, of which the government of Ankara is the first signatory. Thousands of women demonstrated shouting slogans against femicide, which in the last year is believed to have caused at least three hundred victims. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe, MarijaPejčinovićBurić, called the news "devastating", while the High Representative for Foreign Policy of the European Union Josep Borrell expressed regret and "misunderstanding at the decision of the Turkish government". "Countries should work to strengthen and renew commitments to end violence against women and demand accountability from those responsible for abuse, not reject international treaties written to protect them", commented US president Joe Biden.