KA-DER Gives Government Failing Grades On Gender Equality Report Card

With International Women's Day approaching on Sunday, March 8, the Association for Education and Supporting Women Candidates (KA-DER) issued a report card for gender equality in government representation on Friday, giving Turkey's government failing scores.

The organization reported that only 77 of 535 members of Parliament, two of 81 governors, one of 25 undersecretaries and three of 30 metropolitan municipality mayors are women. The report further noted Article 10 of the Constitution, which states: “Men and women have equal rights. The government is responsible for ensuring the implementation of this equality.”

KA-DER criticized the state of Parliament, observing that only 14.39 percent of parliamentary deputies are women. KA-DER also drew attention to recent physical altercations that have taken place, stating, “This Parliament does not promote peace, equality, freedom, justice and tolerance but instead represents violence, rage, discrimination, fighting, cursing and insults.”

The women's organization demanded that a Women and Men Equality Commission be established by the government to focus on and improve equality within the legal framework, and a constitutional provision guaranteeing a gender quota in Parliament. The organization wants the government to intervene in the sexist practices that take place within the assembly.

“Even after being elected, women face an array of obstacles. The political sphere is still run with that mentality that politics are a man's job and continues to exclude women. In 43 districts in Turkey, there are no female parliamentary deputies. We expect the upcoming 2015 general elections to eliminate this shame,” stated Chairwoman Gönül Karahanoğlu in the press statement.

KA-DER also noted, “Women in Turkey are not in decision-making positions, and they experience violence, including in representative roles.”

41.9 percent of women in Turkey abused

Furthermore, Bahçeşehir University revealed shocking statistics on the state of violence against women in Turkey to the press on Friday, sharing that 41.9 percent of women in Turkey have been subjected to violence at least once in their lives. The violence against women research analysis also stated that 50 percent of women that come from lower economic classes are subjected to violence.

The report indicated that the situation is worst for women in northeastern Turkey, with 57.1 percent of women being subjected to physical or sexual violence. The region with the lowest percentage of women sexually and physically abused was the western Marmara region, with 26.2 percent falling victim to abuse. The report stated that 39.4 percent of women in İstanbul are victimized.

Sociology professor Dr. Nilüfer Narlı of Bahçeşehir University shared in a press statement that even Turkish idioms promote violence against women. These idioms are used widely in Turkey, according to Narlı, and put abusers in a righteous and culturally accepted position. “Thus,” she stated, “nearly 60 percent of women who have faced violence see their husband's actions as right. They accept these attacks and, with time, identify with it [become accustomed to the abuse].”

(Cihan/Today's Zaman)