President Tayyip Erdogan says Turkey’s withdrawal from an international treaty to prohibit violence against women is not a step backwards, despite widespread outcry from Turks and Western friends.

“Some people are attempting to depict our withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention as a step backward in our fight against violence against women,” he said at an Ankara action plan meeting.

“Our fight did not begin with the Istanbul Convention, and it will not stop with our withdrawal from the treaty,” he said of the 2011 deal negotiated and ratified in Turkey’s largest city.

Erdogan announced his withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in March. The action went into force on Thursday, and hundreds are expected to demonstrate around Turkey later that day.