VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS POLITICAL
We, women, are on the streets once again on November 25 to express our determination to fight violence against women and to say “violence against women is political.” The Mirabal sisters who rebelled against the fascist government in the Dominican Republic were tortured to death on 25 November 1960. The United Nations declared this date as the “International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women” in 1999. Violence against women in our lands has existed throughout history. Many women were massacred in the 1915 and 1938 genocides in our lands, which is a geography of genocide, and many of their graves could not even be found.
Women are subjected to violence in every walk of life. Violence can be directed against women within the family, at school, at home, on the street, in detention, in village raids, at press conferences, everywhere. Deep poverty and economic hardship also affect women the most. In the aftermath of the 6 February 2023 earthquakes, women were subjected to violence and gross violations of their rights. A male-dominated, feudal and militarized power has always existed in our geography. When we look at the established legal system, it was only in 2005 that violence against women was truly regulated. Previously, the section of the Turkish Penal Code regulating violence against women was titled “Crimes against General Morals and Family.” In other words, women were not included in the Turkish Penal Code. Violence against women was ignored. As a result of women’s organized struggles, however, important amendments were introduced to the Turkish Penal Code in 2005, which we still find not exhaustive enough.
The struggle of women in our lands led to the emergence of a very significant convention. In the case of Nahide Opuz, whose mother was murdered by her husband in Diyarbakır and who herself was injured, Turkey was convicted by the European Court of Human Rights for failing to protect a woman’s life. After this case, the Council of Europe asked all member states to organize a convention against violence against women. This is how the “İstanbul Convention” came into being. In other words, the İstanbul Convention was actually the result of the women’s struggle in our lands. Yet, the İstanbul Convention has never been adequately implemented. But for women, above all, this convention had an emotional significance. Even having this convention was extremely important for women. In 2021, with the signature of a single man, the president, without asking anyone, without hearing the voices of women, without taking them into account, Turkey withdrew from this convention.
Nevertheless, the women’s liberation movement has never given up. It continues its struggle both to take back the İstanbul Convention and to speak up against violence against women in every field. Today, there are conflicts and wars both in our country and in many parts of the world for various reasons. In these wars, unfortunately, gross crimes against humanity are committed and the greatest victims of these crimes against humanity are women. In Rojava, Ukraine, Palestine, Israel and many other parts of the world, women are still victims of war. Women and girls are not only the victims of wars but they are also exposed to the exploitation of women’s bodies and labor as refugees and asylum seekers as a result of wars. In all areas of life, women’s rights to life, work, housing, association and assembly are constantly violated and their fundamental rights are denied. In cases and investigations initiated into women who have been subjected to violence, we constantly witness that the process is carried out in favor of male perpetrators until the end of the trial. Unfortunately, the judiciary in Turkey is dominated by an extremely male-dominated feudal mindset.
As women, we demand an end to conduct that legitimizes violence in society, which exonerates and grants impunity male perpetrators. We reiterate our demand that Law No. 6284 be implemented diligently and effectively. Prisons are one of the places where violence is experienced most intensely. Violence is doubled for women, LGBTI+ persons, and mothers with children in prisons. Relevant authorities must take all measures against the violence and rights violations faced by women and LGBTI+ persons both inside prisons and on their way to and from hospitals.
Violence against women is political. The language of violence and hate used by those who govern the state against women or LGBTI+ persons or in relation to social events negatively affects the whole society. Such language of hate unfortunately comes back as violence against women and girls first. Thus, we are aware that violence against women is political and we believe that the significance of social peace should also be emphasized once again. As women human rights defenders, we continue our struggle for human rights and freedoms for a life without violence and conflict. Once again, we say “violence against women is political” and we declare that we will continue our struggle against violence with determination today as we did yesterday.
Human Rights Association
Central Women’s Committee