At least 29 women died as a result of gender-based violence in Turkey in November. Another 22 women died under suspicious circumstances, according to the latest monthly report from the platform “We Will Stop Femicide” (KCDP). The Istanbul-based organization documents the number of femicides and unexplained female deaths in Turkey on a monthly basis. The aim is to draw attention to structural violence against women and increase pressure on government agencies.
According to the latest report, eight of the femicides committed in the past month were motivated by the victims’ desire to separate from their partners, file for divorce, or end a relationship. Two women were killed for “economic reasons.” In 18 cases, the motive remained unknown—a circumstance that the KCDP considers to be indicative of a lack of investigation and social repression.
“The less that is known about the circumstances of these killings, the easier it is to lose sight of the violent relationships,” the report states. In this context, the organization points to structural deficits in victim protection and insufficient implementation of international obligations—such as those under the Istanbul Convention, which Turkey officially left in 2021.
Suspected cases are increasing and often remain unsolved
In addition to femicides, the platform also recorded 22 suspicious deaths of women in November, for which official authorities have not yet identified a clear cause or which have been classified by the police as accidents or suicides. The actual number of femicides could therefore be significantly higher, according to KCDP.
So far in 2025, the platform has recorded more than 260 femicides and almost as many suspicious female deaths. This is not the first time that the total number recorded has significantly exceeded the official figures provided by the authorities. The organization is calling for comprehensive measures: from effective protection against violence and investigations in accordance with the rule of law to raising public awareness.
“Every woman killed is a political failure”
Key demands include the consistent enforcement of protection orders, the establishment of independent monitoring bodies, the inclusion of gender-based violence as a criminal offense in the penal code, and transparency in the official recording of femicides. The KCDP emphasizes that many of the crimes could have been prevented if warning signs had been taken seriously, protective measures enforced, and women given serious support. “Every woman killed is a political failure. A social consensus is needed to defend women’s rights and prevent violence.”