Turkey withdrew from the world's first binding instrument to prevent and combat violence against women, according to a presidential decree issued on Friday that immediately drew criticism from the main opposition party.
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The 2011 Istanbul Convention requires governments to pass legislation punishing domestic violence and similar abuses, including marital rape and female genital mutilation.
But conservatives have argued that the charter harms family unity, encourages divorce and that its references to equality are used by the LGBT community to gain greater acceptance in society.
Turkey had debated a possible withdrawal from the convention after an official of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's ruling party raised the question of abandoning the treaty last year.
Since then, women have taken to the streets of Istanbul and other cities, calling on the government to stick to the Convention.
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The move comes as domestic violence and femicide remain a serious problem in Turkey.
A man was arrested in the north of the country on Sunday after a video was posted on social media in which he is seen hitting his ex-wife in the street.
Last year, 300 women were murdered according to rights group We Will Stop Femicide.
