In Turkey, it continues to be extremely difficult for women who have experienced sexual violence to speak out and obtain justice. Ostracism, discrimination by society and concepts of "honour" conspire to silence the survivors of sexual violence. When agents of the state are the perpetrators, they reinforcing a culture of violence and discrimination
that places all women at risk.

Amnesty International is concerned that state agents may be resorting to torture in the form of rape and sexual assault in the knowledge that survivors are unlikely to want to report their experiences.

The perpetrators have been effectively targeting both the survivor and her community, while also committing their crimes with impunity," Amnesty International said.

Reports received by Amnesty International indicate that women detained are frequently stripped naked by male officers during questioning in police custody or in prison. In this situation women are at high risk of exposure to violence and humiliation.

In Turkey, women face forced "virginity tests" as a form of punishment or humiliation. The consequences of "virginity testing" for many women examined, whose hymens have been reported to be absent, have included violence, humiliation, and on occasion, death. Merely the threat of a test can be sufficient to cause psychological consequences for the victim of sexual assault. To refuse can be perceived as an admission of "stained honour" and may put the survivor at increased risk of sexual assault.