FINAL REPORT

TURKEY: Country Gender Profile

December 2006

PROF. DR. SERPL SANCAR

Director of Women Studies Center, Ankara University
AYA BULUT
Phd. Political Sciences Department, Ankara University

The information presented here was gathered from on-site sources. Therefore, JICA is not responsible for its accuracy.

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABBREVIATIONS.................................................................................................................................. III
1. BASIC PROFILE................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1. SOCIO-ECONOMIC PROFILE ................................................................................................................. 1
1.2. HEALTH PROFILE ................................................................................................................................ 2
1.3. EDUCATIONAL PROFILE ....................................................................................................................... 3
1.4. LABOR PROFILE .................................................................................................................................. 4
1.5. GENDER EQUALITY ............................................................................................................................. 4
1.6. GENDER RELATED LAWS ..................................................................................................................... 5
2. GENERAL SITUATION OF WOMEN AND GOVERNMENT POLICY ON GENDER ........................ 6
2.1. GENERAL SITUATION ........................................................................................................................... 6
2.2. GOVERNMENTAL POLICY ON GENDER .................................................................................................. 8
2.3. DIRECTORATE GENERAL ON STATUS AND PROBLEMS OF WOMEN (DGSPW)....................................... 10
3. CURRENT SITUATION OF WOMEN BY SECTORS....................................................................... 14
3.1. EDUCATION ...................................................................................................................................... 14
3.2. HEALTH ............................................................................................................................................ 15
3.3. AGRICULTURE AND RURAL WOMEN .................................................................................................... 17
3.4. PARTICIPATION OF WOMEN TO LABOUR MARKET ................................................................................ 19
4. LEGAL REFORMS FOR GENDER EQUALITY ............................................................................... 23
4.1. CONSTITUTION ARTICLE 10 AMENDMENT 14.................................................................................... 23
4.2. PENAL CODE .................................................................................................................................... 23
4.3. CIVIL CODE ...................................................................................................................................... 23
4.4. FAMILY PROTECTION LAW (NO. 4320) ............................................................................................... 24
4.5. OPTIONAL PROTOCOL TO CEDAW .................................................................................................... 24
4.6. LABOR CODE (NO. 4857) .................................................................................................................. 24
4.7. MUNICIPAL LAW (NO: 5393) .............................................................................................................. 25
5. GENDER INFORMATION RESOURCES......................................................................................... 26
5.1. WOMENS ORGANIZATIONS IN TURKEY ............................................................................................... 26
5.2. LIST OF ORGANIZATIONS ................................................................................................................... 27
5.2.1. Organizations for Womens Health..................................................................................... 27
5.2.2. Organizations for Womens Human Rights ........................................................................ 27
5.2.3. Womens Organizations in Ankara ..................................................................................... 28
5.2.4. Womens Organizations in Istanbul and Marmara Region ................................................. 29
5.2.5. Womens Organizations in Eastern Turkey ........................................................................ 31
5.2.6. Womens Organizations in Western Turkey ....................................................................... 33
5.2.7. Womens Organizations in Southern Turkey ...................................................................... 34
5.2.8. Womens Studies and Research Center in Universities..................................................... 34
5.2.9. Women and Gender Studies MA Programs and Departments .......................................... 35
5.3. LIST OF INDIVIDUALS INTERVIEWED .................................................................................................... 60
6. GENDER PROJECTS....................................................................................................................... 36
6.1. PROJECTS OF DGSPW..................................................................................................................... 36
6.1.1. Completed Projects ............................................................................................................ 36
6.1.2. Ongoing Projects ................................................................................................................ 36

6.2. PROJECTS OF OTHER GOVERNMENTAL BODIES ................................................................................ 36

6.3. WOMENS NGOS PROJECT............................................................................................................... 39
6.3.1. Projects of KAGIDER (Business Women Association) ...................................................... 39
6.3.2. Projects of KA-MER (Womens Center) ............................................................................. 41
6.3.3. Projects of KA-DER Head Office- ISTANBUL .................................................................... 42
6.3.4. Projects of KA-DER Ankara.............................................................................................. 43
6.3.5. Flying Broom (Uan Sprge) ............................................................................................ 43
6.3.6. AEV Anne ocuk Eitim Vakf (Foundation for Mother and Child Education)................. 44
6.3.7. ada Yaam Destekleme Dernei (Association for Contemporary Living)................... 45
6.3.8. Yerel Gndem 21- Kadn Meclisleri (Local Agenda 21- Womens Assembly) ................... 45
6.3.9. BIANET Kadnn Penceresi (Womans Window) ................................................................ 46
6.4. UN TURKEY COUNTRY PROJECTS ..................................................................................................... 46
6.4.1. Completed UN Projects ...................................................................................................... 46
6.4.2. Ongoing and Coming Projects of UN ................................................................................. 49
6.4.3. Gender Integrated Projects of UNDP ................................................................................. 49
6.5. PROJECTS OF PRIVATE SECTOR ........................................................................................................ 50
7. MAIN DOCUMENTS ......................................................................................................................... 51
7.1. BIBLIOGRAFY ON WOMEN STUDIES .................................................................................................... 51
7.1.1. General ............................................................................................................................... 51
7.1.2. Engendering the Turkish History ........................................................................................ 52
7.1.3. Womens Health in Turkey.................................................................................................. 53
7.1.4. Womens Movements in Turkey ......................................................................................... 53
7.1.5. Religion and Women in Turkey........................................................................................... 54
7.1.6. Publications of Womens Organizations ............................................................................. 55
7.1.7. Periodicals .......................................................................................................................... 56
7.2. OTHER DOCUMENTS AND REPORTS ................................................................................................... 56
7.2.1. International Reports on Womens Rights in Turkey .......................................................... 56
7.2.2. National Reports on Womens Human Right in Turkey ...................................................... 57
7.2.3. Special Reports on Gender Equality in Turkey................................................................... 58
7.2.4. NGO Reports and Documentation on Womens Rights in Turkey ..................................... 58
8. MAIN RESEARCHS ON WOMEN .................................................................................................... 62
8.1. RESEARCH ON FEMALE POPULATION ................................................................................................. 62
8.2. WOMEN TRAFFICKING AND SEXUAL SLAVERY ..................................................................................... 62
8.3. WOMENS CITIZENSHIP RIGHTS IN LOCAL POLITICS............................................................................. 62
8.4. SEXUAL AND DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN .......................................................................... 63
8.5. WOMEN AND FAMILY ......................................................................................................................... 63
8.6. REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH OF WOMEN .................................................................................................. 64
8.7. WOMEN IN DECISION MAKING ............................................................................................................ 64
8. 8. WOMEN IN UNIVERSITIES .................................................................................................................. 64
REFERENCE DOCUMENTS ............................................................................................................... 65
DEFINITIONS........................................................................................................................................ 69

ii

ABBREVIATIONS
AEV

Mother Child Educational Fund (Anne ocuk Eitim Vakf)

AEU

European Education Foundation

CEDAW

Convention Against All Kinds of Discrimination against Women

ATOM

Multi-purpose Society Centres (ok Amal Toplum Merkezi)

YDD

Association for Contemporary Living (ada Yaam Destekleme Dernei)

DGSPW

Directorate General on Status and Problems of Women (Kadnn Stats ve Sorunlar

Genel Mdrl)

DPT

State Planning Organization (Devlet Planlama Tekilat)

EKAM

Aegean University Centre for Women's Issues (Ege niversitesi Kadn Aratrmalar
Merkezi)

EU

European Union

GAP

South Eastern Anatolia Project (Gneydou Anadolu Projesi)

GIDEM

Entrepreneur Supporting Centres (Giriimci Destekleme Merkezi)

HRW

Human Rights Watch

HUKSAM

Hacettepe University Centre for Research and Implementation (Hacettepe

niversitesi Kadn Sorunlar Uygulama Merkezi)

HUNEE

Hacettepe University Population Institute (Hacettepe niversitesi Nfus Ettleri

Enstits)

IHD

Human Rights Association (nsan Haklar Dernei)

ILO

International Labor Organization

IOM

International Organization for Migration

IULA EMME

International Union of Local Authorities, Section for the Eastern

Mediterranean and

Middle East Region

IPC

Istanbul Policy Centre (stanbul Politikalar Merkezi)

IS-KUR

Turkish National Employment Office (Trkiye ve i bulma Kurumu)

KADAV

Solidarity with Women Fund (Kadnlarla Dayanma Vakf)

KASAUM

Ankara University Women's Studies Centre (Ankara niversitesi Kadn

Aratrmalar Merkezi)
KAUM

University of Istanbul Research Centre on Women's Issues (stanbul niversitesi

Kadn Sorunlar Aratrma Merkezi)

KAYA

Women's Citizen Network (Kadn Yurtta A)

KADER

Association for Supporting and Educating Women Candidates (Kadn Adaylar

Destekleme ve Eitme Merkezi)

KAMER

Women's Centre (Kadn Merkezi)

KAGIDER

Associaton for Women Enterpreteurs (Kadn Giriimciler Dernei)

KEDV

Foundation for Supporting Women's Handcraft (Kadn Emeini Deerlendirme Vakf)

KESK

Confederation of Public Servants (Kamu alanlar Konfederasyonu)

iii

KOSGEB

Small and Medium Industry Development Organization (Kk ve Orta lekli Sanayi
Gelitirme ve Destekleme daresi Bakanl)

MCH/FP

General Directorate of Mother and Child Health of the Ministry of Health

NDI

National Endowement Foundation USA

NWM

National Women's Machinery

SIS

State Institute of Statistics

NGO

Non-Govermental Organization

SHECEK

Office for Social Service and Children (Sosyal Hizmetler Ve ocuk Esirgeme
Kurumu)

TBMM

Grand Turkish National Assembly, (Trkiye Byk Millet Meclisi)

TESEV

Turkish Foundation for Social and Economic Research (Trkiye Sosyal ve

Ekonomik Ettler Vakf)

TESK

Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen Confederation (Trkiye Esnaf ve Sanatkarlar

Konfederasyonu)

TISK

Confederation

of

Turkish

Employers

Union

(Trkiye

veren

Sendikalar

Konfederasyonu)
TPC

Turkish Penal Code

TUBITAK

Scientific &Technolocical Research Council of Turkey (Trkiye Bilimsel ve Teknik

Aratrmalar Kurumu)

TUIK

State Statistic Institute of Turkey (Trkiye statistik Enstits)

TUSIAD

Turkish Industrial Bussinessmen Association (Trkiye Sanayici Ve adamlar Dernei)

UN

United Nations

UNDP

United Nations Development Program

UNICEF

United Nations Childrens Fund

UNIFEM

United Nations Development Fund for Women

UNFPA

United Nations Population Fund

WHO

World Health Organization

iv

1. BASIC PROFILE

1.1. Socio-Economic Profile

Total population: 67.803.940 (2000) 1

(TSK)

Population Distribution by Gender and Age Groups

4.000.000
3.500.000

Population

3.000.000
2.500.000
male pop

2.000.000

female pop

1.500.000
1.000.000
500.000

85
+

59
10
-1
4
15
-1
9
20
-2
4
25
-2
9
30
-3
4
35
-3
9
40
-4
4
45
-4
9
50
-5
4
55
-5
9
60
-6
4
65
-6
9
70
-7
4
75
-7
9
80
-8
4

0-

Age Group

Resource: http://www.tuik.gov.tr (According to 2000 Population Census)

Population under age 15 (% of total): 29.5 2 (UNDP)
Total GDP (billion USD/commodity prices): 569.2 (2005) (TSK)
GDP growth rate %:7,4
GDP per capita (USD): 7,949.9
Average annual rate of inflation: 8,1

Public expenditure in consolidated budget: (as of % of G.D.P.) (UNDP)

Defence (Military expenditure) 3,1
Education: 3,7 (2002-2004)
Health 5,4 (2003-2004)

Urban population (as of % total population): 66.8 (2004) (UNDP)

Urban population (thousands): 43.036.058 (2004) 3 (DPT)
Urban male population: 22 427 603 (2000) 4 (TUK)
1

TSK(Trkiye veren Sendikalar Konfederasyonu) , 2006, Avrupa Birliine Giri Srecinde AB lkeleri ve Dier Aday
lkeler Karsnda Trkiyenin Durumu: TSK Kyaslama Raporu,; Ekonomik ve Sosyal Alanda Seilmi 145 Gsterge,
pub.no.274 ( Turkeys Positions According to Member and Candidate Countries in the Process of Accession to EU:
Benchmarking Report According to 145 Selected Economic and Social Indicator) (hereinafter TSK)
2
UNDP, Human Development Report 2006; http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/pdfs/report/HDR_2006_Tables.pdf (hereinafterUNDP)
3
DPT www.dpt.gov.tr (hereinafter DPT)

Urban female population: 21 578 671 (2000) (TUK)

Rural population (thousands): 28.295.942(2004) (DPT)
Rural male population: 11 919 132 (2000)
Rural female population: 11 878 521 (2000)
Population below income poverty line (%):19902003 (UNDP)
National poverty line: 27.0 5
Under 2 USD: 18,7
Under 1 USD: 3,4
Human Poverty Index: Rank: 21 Rate: 9,8
HPI-1 rank minus income poverty rank 6 : 1

1.2. Health Profile

Health expenditure (2003, % of GNP) (UNDP)
Public 5.4
Private 2.2
Per capita (PPP USD) 528
Life expectancy at birth (years): 68.6 (2000-2005) (UNDP)
Probability at birth of surviving to age 65:
Female: 77.9
Male: 67.3

Number of Hospital Beds: 189.591 (2004) (UNDP)

Population per bed: 376
Population per physician: 720
Number of health clinics: 6.042
Doctor per capita: 99.050
Nurse per capita: 81.064
Pharmacist per capita: 24.117
Maternal mortality rate (per 100.000 live births): 130 (1990-2004) (UNDP)
Under age 5 mortality rate (per 1000 live births): 32 (2004)
Infant mortality rate (per 1000 live births): 28 (2004)

TUIK http://tuik.gov.tr (hereinafter TUK)

National poverty line refers to the share of the population living on less than $1 a day. All countries with an income poverty
rate of less than 2% were given equal rank. The rankings are based on countries for which data are available for both indicators.
A positive figure indicates that the country performs better in income poverty than in human poverty, a negative the opposite.
see http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/indicators/default.cfm
6
National poverty index (NPI-1) measures deprivations in the three basic dimensions of human development: 1. A long and
healthy life-vulnerability to death at a relatively early age, as mesasured by the probability at birth of not surviving to age 40. 2.
Knowledge-exclusion from the world of reading and communications, as mesasured by the adult licetarcy rate. 3. A decent
standart of living-lack of access to overall economic provisioning, as measured by the un weighted average of two indicators,
the percentage of population without permanent access to an improved water source and percentage of children under weight
for age. see http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/indicators/default.cfm
5

Contraceptive Prevalence between married women ages 15-49(%): 64 (1996-2004) (UNDP)

Births attended by skilled health personel (%): 83 (1996-2004) (UNDP)

1.3. Educational Profile

Adult literacy rate (% ages 15 and older) (2004) (UNDP)
Female
79.6
Male
95.3
Female rate as of %of male rate: 84
Youth literacy (2004) (UNDP)
Female rate (% ages 1524) 93.3
Female rate as % of male rate 95
Net primary enrolment (2004) (UNDP)
Female rate (%): 87
Female rate as % of male rate: 95
Increase in years in girl child enrolment (net) (TUK)
1997- 1998(%)
2004-2005(%)
Primary
75,6
92,2
Secondary
33,8
42.4
University
9,5
12.0
Illiteracy & literacy rate: (DPT) (TUK)
Illiteracy rate (%): Total: 12,7, Female: 19,4 ; Male: 6,1 (2000)
Literacy rate (%) Total: 87,3 Female: 80,6 Male: 93,9 (2000)
Literate but no school completed: 2 151 801 (TUK)
Male
881,546 (5.26 %)
Female 1,270,255 (7.52 %)
High school (net) enrolment % (2003-2004) 7
Female 42,4
Male
50,2

(TCG)

Higher education completed: 2 625 311 (2000) (TUK)

Male
1,714,426
(10.23 %)
Female
910,885
(5.39 %)
Higer education (2003-2004) (TCG)
7

MEB, 2004-2005, see www.kssgm.gov.tr/istatistics/toplumsalcinsiyetgostergeleri (hereinafter TCG)

Total
1.946.442
Female 812.302 (41.2 %)
Male
1.134.140
Female to male ratio 71.6

1.4. Labor Profile

Total employment (thousand people): (2004) (TSK)
Total 21.563
Total male employment: 15.856
Total female employment: 5.707
Participation to work force (2004) (%) (TUK)
Total
48.7
Male
72.3
Female 25.4
Female participation to work force (%) (TUK)
34,1 (1990)
26,9 (2002)
25,4 (2004)
24.8 (urban 19.3, rural 33.7) (2005)
Percentage in Sectors (%) (TSK) (UNDP)
Agriculture
Total: 34,0 (2004)
Male: 24
Female: 56 (1995-2003)
Industry
Total: 23,0
Male: 28
Female:15 (1995-2003)
Services
Total: 43,0
Male: 48
Female: 29
Unemployment rate (%) (TSK)
Total: 10,3
Male (15 and older labor force): 10,8
Female (15 and labor force): 9,0
1.5. Gender Equality (UNDP)

Gender-related development index (GDI) 8

Rank 71
Value 0.745

Estimated earned income (PPP US$) (2004)

Female 4.038
Male
11.408
Ratio of estimated female to male earned income: 0,35 (UNDP)
Seats in TBMM held by women (% of total): 4.4
Female legislators, senior officials and managers (% of total): 7
Female professional and technical workers (% of total): 31

1.6. Gender Related Laws

Family Protection Law (1998) (no. 4320)

Civil Code (2002) (no. 4721)
Labour Code (2003) (no. 4857)
Penal Code (2004) (no. 5237)
Municipal Law (2005) (no. 5393)
Family Court Law (2003) (no. 4787)
Organizational Law of Diroctorate General on Status and Problems of Women (DGSPW)
(2004) (no. 5251)
Organizational Law of Directorate General on Family and Social Research (2004) (no.
5256)

GDI (gender development Index) is a measure of human development that adjusts the human development index (HDI) to
penalize for disparities between women and men in the three dimensions of the HDI 1. A long and healthy life, as measured by
life expectancy at birth. 2. Knowledge, as measured by the adult literacy rate and the combined primary, secondary and tertiary
gross enrolment ratio.3. A decent standard of living, as measured by estimated earned income (PPP USD). see
http://hdr.undp.org/hdr2006/statistics/indicators/default.cfm

2. GENERAL SITUATION OF WOMEN AND GOVERNMENT POLICY ON GENDER

2.1. General Situation

In Turkey, argument for gender equality has a long history. While the experiences of
Ottoman women of 19th century lie in the background, the most important pillars of this
history were the Republican Reforms. These reforms accomplished in the 1920s and 1930
have reflected modern women as a symbol and describe the socially competing forces of
Turkish society, as traditional-religious vs. modern-Westernized ones. This background
signified national gender equality policies as a part of modernization or cultural
transformation processes, rather than being considered as an integral aspect of the
economic development and growth. 9
Turkeys modernization period has been characterized as family-centered society that was in
some context contrary to womens humans rights and freedom. This was a kind of the
designing a modern family, based on the womens role as wife and mother. Due to this
legacy, participation of women in social and political life without respecting their family
responsibilities has been perceived to be destructive for family life. By this fact, one of the
very first pre-conditions for gender equality is to create an enabling environment that
supports equal standing of both sexes in the family. The consequence of this prioritized
womans family-centered roles, it is mostly charity works as pattern for social participation is
deemed to be suitable for women in Turkey. This status for women restricted to social but
not economic and political is also result in a persistent lack of female power in labour
market and political decision making.
Family-based societal perceptions related with womens status also create a kind of
blindness to social security problems of women. It should be stated that family or communitybased traditional social protection and safety nets are still more effective for women rather
than public ones or other social security, poverty alleviation measures and support strategies
from a gender equality perspective. However, the community also impedes womens
empowerment since its traditional norms and values pose obstacles for women to work and
participate equally to society.
Despite this gender asymmetrical background for womens status, since the 1990s womens
organizations in Turkey gained a crucial role in forcing equality legislation and policies for
implementation due to its increasing political prominence and capacity to participate in social,
economic and political configuration of decision in the country. Through their efforts, public
awareness has been increasing and people have been better informed about existing gender
disparity issues, problems to be faced and also capabilities, resources and mechanisms to
be solved. Since the beginning of last decade, as a consequence of this development some

See Bibliography vol. 7.1.2. Engendering the Turkish History

of the womens NGOs are becoming strategic partners of equality policies of the government.
This is one of the main strengthening aspects of gender equality policies in Turkey 10 .
Owing to some outspoken NGOs whose mandates were struggling for fulfillment of womens
human rights including equal access to education, elimination of domestic and sexual
violence, increasing womens representation in the TBMM (Grand Turkish National
Assembly) and main governing bodies, the issue of gender equality has been kept quite
visible in media throughout the 90s. As the consequence of this occurrence, main areas of
gender equality agenda become visible as domestic violence, honor killing 11 s high illiteracy
rate, and low participation in political decision making processes, especially in national and
local representative bodies and the labor market appear.
The extent to which gender-based violence is prevalent in a society is often indicative of the
depth of basic inequality between women and men in that culture. In Turkey the prevalence
of different types and forms of violence against women (domestic, community-based, sexual,
etc.) and the effectiveness of measures implemented to combat such violence through the
punishment of perpetrators and through rehabilitation and support services for victims are
currently under discussion. Community and state attitudes as reflected in social norms and
cultural practices over a wide spectrum, ranging from honor crimes to bride-price and
wife-battering, as well as the promulgation and implementation of laws pertaining
specifically to gender-based violence in the home, in the community and in the state
agencies (that is, in police custody or detention) are widely being discussed.
Ongoing inequalities between womens and mens participation in political decision making
processes at the national and local levels in Turkey is one of the main resources of gender
asymmetry. Under-representation of women in political decision-making and the maledominated models of participation in political parties are visible aspects of this fact. Womens
branches in political parties are seen primarily as instruments for the mobilization of female
voters but not for training and assisting women for political representation and so that only a
few powerful women of the elites can be part of the political processes.
Lack of access to labor markets, employment opportunities and productive resources, and
constraints on mobility and time burdens that result from double duties for women in the
public and private spheres are defined as accounting for the lack of opportunity. Lack of
access to public services such as health and education are linked to lack of capabilities, and
vulnerability to economic risks and civil/domestic violence are perceived as leading to lack of
security. Being without a voice and power at the household, community and national levels
is negatively related to empowerment.

10

11

See Bibliography vol.7.3. Womens Movement in Turkey

see definations: honor killing

The role of women in Turkey in social, economic and political life registered important
improvements in legislation but practical implementation was lagging behind. In near future
this has to be realized by more concrete programs and projects.

2.2. Governmental Policy on Gender

Turkey stipulates an important progress regarding womens rights since 1990s. Due to the
outcomes of the womens organizations efforts and international monitoring activities on
gender equality issues of Turkey, a parallel development has been observed in some of the
main governmental bodies and policies motivated by the capability to build a common
agenda for gender equality with the participation of related public authorities, womens NGOs
and some private sector initiatives that will make Turkey more skilled in implementing her
recently revised gender equality perspective.
For an effective gender equality policy, collaborative efforts between government (local and
national), NGOs, labor market partners, media and private co-operations are virtually needed.
The Turkish government has acknowledged the role of womens rights organizations as
partners of the government and it is supported by national and international stakeholders to
consolidate this cooperation with NGOs through official and permanent structures and
institutions.
Until recently, Turkeys legal framework for gender equality might be defined as genderneutral that was in fact helpful in eliminating gender inequalities. During the last decades
sliding perspectives become dominant in globally which was critical to any kind of genderneutral perspective and favoring gender-sensitive or gender-integrated ones. Turkey has
been affected by the proceedings prevailed within this new engendering perspective and
needs became clear to revise all her basic laws from a new gender-integrated perspective.
What is observed on the background of recent reforms in Turkey regarding gender equality
might be interpreted as the outcomes of this perspective. 12
For Turkey, the period since the beginning of 2000s is marked by milestone legal reforms
that eliminate fundamental discriminatory provisions against women. Legal framework for
womens rights and gender equality has been legislated as concordant to Turkeys
commitment to international and regional legal standards such the UN Convention on the
Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and the European Union
acquis. These developments open the gate for path-breaking projects in terms of providing
gender equality.
This state of affair was reached by the fact of close cooperation between local and
international womens organizations and their enforcing capabilities to governmental bodies
for reallocating resources of Turkey along with the efforts for reinventing gender equality
policies empowered by the recent legal instruments. In the current situation, main actors for
12

See vol.4. Legal Reforms for Gender Equality .

gender equality policies of Turkey that are womens NGOs, state ministries, and international
institutions such as EU and UN are working together to get real outcomes of these efforts. At
this stage governmental policy on gender equality is mainly concentrated on the issues of
violence against women, womens reproductive health and increasing girl child enrolment to
education 13 .
One of the early steps of governmental policy on gender equality were to build a national
machinery for womens rights (NWM) that is Directorate General on Status and Problems of
Women (DGSPW) used as a main instrument in accomplishing related efforts. These
governmental efforts on gender equality can be characterized by shifting perspectives from a
general sensitivity for the issues of womens human rights violations towards a perspective
which is more inclusive gender mainstreaming policies. 14
For full and effective implementation of the gender mainstreaming policy, the establishment
of an Advisory Board on the Status of Women accomplished in 2004 by the Organizational
Law of DGSPW 15 which will provide advice on policy planning and implementation will be
useful if effectively used in order to facilitate the coordination between ministries, academic
institutions and NGOs.
Mainstreaming the gender perspective in all policies, plans and programs are targeted by
DGSPW and this has been an on-going process in Turkey, albeit facing strong resistance by
the male dominated mentality in the state bureaucracy. In efforts to mainstream gender
equality, some governmental bodies have been prioritized as targets to be made more
receptive to and accountable for gender equality.
Despite rapid increasing in resources, participants and quantity in womens rights projects
and institutional capacities there are still ongoing deficiencies of gender equality agenda in
terms of the gender inequality issues which are still stayed untouched.
In Turkey, what is currently observed in recent development policies and projects is that only
a separated component is assigned to womens problems, however the rest of the project
stays gender blind. Consequences of this neglecting, it might not be an unpredictable result
for any project that is, on the one hand, including a womens empowerment component and
on the other, unconsciously creating a new gender asymmetry that will become a real
obstacles in the near future. Furthermore, Turkey still has few affinities available on mens
responsibility to become conscious about their involvement in prevailing gender inequalities.
Another deficiency is in resources which have been allocated to researches and to collect
data on women and gender affairs within the capabilities of universities and specific research
institutions, like TUBTAK, and the lack of country-wide data dissemination. Poverty is still a
major problem for women and in near future it will gain more gendered characteristics in
13

See vol.6.2. Projects of Other Governmental Bodies.

See Definations: Gender Mainstreaming
15
See vol. 2.3. DGSPW.
14

cooperation with other social problems. The role of the social protection system in alleviating
poverty is still very limited and not sensitive for gender asymmetries.
An amendment to Political Parties Law and Election Law were under discussion since the
last years that was at least 1/3 quota demanded for underrepresented gender in the
candidate lists of general and local elections with specific provisions to ensure their
placement in electable positions of lists. This proposal for representation quota is being
forced by most of the womens NGOs 16 and was recommended in EU Commission Reports
both in 2005 and 2006 but it has not been reached to any solution yet 17 .
In Turkey there is no institutional body such as the Parliamentary Committee for Gender
Equality to ensure womens representation in TBMM. It is repeatedly recommended to
government to establish a Standing Parliamentary Committee on Gender Equality especially
by CEDAW, EU and NGOs recommendation reports.
Governmental policy to prevent domestic and sexual violence is not evaluated as satisfactory
and it is always suggested that more Shelter should be provided for the victims which has
already become mandatory by recent amendments to the Municipal Law 18 . The
establishment of the Alo 157, emergency call number, for family, women, children and
handicapped telephone provides help for violence cases and considered as a new positive
step at nation-wide 19 .
The Government has no up dated national action plan on women and gender issues but it
was announced that one will be drafted soon especially on the prevention of domestic
violence as prioritized area 20 .
2.3. Directorate General on Status and Problems of Women (DGSPW)
Turkeys national machinery for gender equality policies is mainly composed of a central
coordination unit that is DGSPW and some connected units assigned to different ministries.
DGSPW was established in 1990 under the Prime Ministry in accordance with governmental
liabilities to international resolutions. Its location was changed repeatedly throughout its
existence. DGSPW was first under the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare in 1990 and in
1991, its portfolio was given to the Ministry of State responsible for Women's Affairs, Family
and Social Services. Due to changes in government, 6 ministers were in charge of DGSPW
in 5 years. In 2002, the DGSPW was returned to the Ministry of Labor and Social Welfare.
This position changed again and the DGSPW was returned to the Prime Ministry in 2003.

16

See doc.no. 13, 15, 16, 17.

See doc.no. 1, 2.
18
See vol. 4.7. Legal Reforms, Municipal Law.
19
See Special Parliamentary Commission Report, (doc.no. 7)
17

20

See www.kssgm.gov.tr and preperations for gender indicator action plan see doc.no.22.

10

From the beginning, the political process to establish a NWM was signed by two different
flows of effects that were reflections of the divisions within the political society between more
Western/liberal oriented elites versus those that favored a Turkish-Islamic syntheses. This
political negotiation process led to the establishment of two parallel mechanisms, one
focusing on women, and the other on the family, and again two separate bureaucratic units,
one called the Directorate for Womens Status and Problems, acquiring the official status as
coordination unit of NWM and the other called The Family Research Organization that is
mainly working as consulting unit. In time, DGSPW reached the position of to hold the
responsibility as main policy designer and implementing unit of NWM and other fall back to
secondary importance.
The DGSPW was created by a Decree and did not have a formal legal basis (an
organizational law) until 2004. The lack of an organizational law and its organizational
relocation process weakened the DGSPW and put it in a precarious position and, of course,
limited its effectiveness in fulfilling its responsibilities. The director was appointed on a
temporary basis and the staff members did not have the rights that regular public servants
have such as opportunities for promotion, indemnity and claim to seniority.
The new Organizational Law of 2004 has emphasized on empowerment of women and
promotion of womens rights in all areas and especially in the eradication of violence against
women and political participation. DGSPWs main role in contributing to policy-making, policy
advocacy including working with the media is especially originated from its gender
mainstreaming perspective.
The new Organizational Law stipulates a new Advisory Council mandated to give policy
advice to the Director, comprised of DGSPW officials, representatives of relevant
government organizations and NGO leaders. It met in June 2006 for the first time and
reached the following conclusions:
There is a need for an overall Gender Policy in Turkey, and priority should be accorded to:
womens employment, education, overcoming violence against women, increasing
womens participation in decision-making and politics.
Legal reforms for gender equality have mostly been enacted; what is important at present
is that there is no retreating from these reforms, and priority be given to implementing
these reforms effectively.
The Advisory Council should bring together academics, womens NGO representatives
and all relevant public institution representatives together and meet every three months.

11

Organizational Chart of DGSPW

Prime Minister

State
Minister
Advisory Committee of
Womens Status

General
Directorate

Assistant
Directorate

Main Service
Department

Advisory Department

Directorate of
Womens
Economic Status

Directorate of
Strategic Planning

Directorate of
Womens Social
Status

Directorate of Legal
Consultancy

Support Services
Department

Directorate of Human
Resources

Foreign
Relations

Communication,
Documentation and
Publication

Human Resources of DGSPW

Since the beginning of DGSPW the lack of a permanent professional staff has put it in a
weak position in terms of human resources and forced to lean on academics and NGO

12

expertise for their own training and needs in this area. In the presence, DGSPW is going to
employ more expertise as its own staff and also shortage in human resources is going to be
fulfilled by a new European Commission project under the 2005 Pre-membership Financial
Assistance Program titled Expanding Gender Equality aims to strengthen the capacity of
the DGSPW itself.
Source of Funding
Between 1994 and 2004, the DGSPW had been running with an extremely limited budget (its
share of the national budget is 0.00012%). DGSPW had been competed for native resources,
but mostly funding came from external sources for DGSPW programs, including the UNDP,
World Bank, the UNFPA. An EU funded project is has already started. It is important to
remember, however, the government shares the financing of UN projects and the World
Bank. Financing of World Bank comes in the form of loans and is paid back by the
government.
Relationship with womens NGOs
The DGSPW emerged as a bureaucracy that engaged in active collaboration with womens
organizations, activists, and academics and represents the first such experiment for Turkey
in the 1990s. It also demonstrated that the state-civil society gap may not be as
insurmountable as imagined. Many women engaged with the DGSPW assumed multiple
roles, switching between bureaucratic, academic and activist identities. Due to this positive
collaboration DGSPW opened the way to womens groups participation at the global level;
womens groups seized these opportunities and demonstrated strong capacity and
leadership in promoting womens rights for Turkey at international forums and national
forums. The network of NGOs around the country has expanded and contributed to all
related steps, especially during legislative reforms and other political area of policy design 21 .
Directorate General on Status and Problems of Women, www.kssgm.gov.tr
Directorate General on Family and Social Research, www.aile.gov.tr

21

for more information on DGSPW see doc. no. 12, doc.no. 4/vol.9.

13

3. CURRENT SITUATION OF WOMEN BY SECTORS

3.1. Education
To the extent that the relationship between human capital and economic growth is relevant,
unequal access to education by women constitutes a critical intervention point for
development polices. For the Turkish case, womens access to education at different levels
(literacy, primary and secondary education, higher education) and types (formal and nonformal education), points to the main bottlenecks with respect to the persistence and
prospects of gender disparities and inequalities in the country.
More than half a million girls do not attend school each year, even though in Turkey it is
compulsory to receive education for at least 8 years. There is a complex range of economic
and social factors that contribute to the non-attendance of girls at school. One of the main
reasons is the reluctance of families to send girls to school. Especially in the South East
region, where the number of girls attending school is disproportionately large, schools are
often situated far from home and many parents do not want their children, especially girls, to
travel far, mainly for security reasons. Many families suffer economic hardship; therefore they
try to augment domestic income by keeping children at home to work. Among the other
reasons, there are that the traditional gender bias of families that favors the needs of men
and boys over those of women and girls and the fact that many parents consider the early
marriage of their girls to be more important than their education. Furthermore, the shortage
of schools and classrooms and the poor physical state of the schools are other reasons for
low interest at education.
In the last years, some important education projects have been launched in order to tackle
this problem and they have had positive effects on the enrolment rate of the girls. Some of
them are 'Dad send me to school', 'Let's go to school girls', 'Snowdrops' and 'Pick your
sibling'. The 'Campaign to support national education' has reached 5 million adults in 4 years,
most of whom are women from rural areas and girls who couldn't go to school. A lot of NGOs
are working as partners of these projects and also international financial supports are really
worth to mention on this respect 22 .
The share of Ministry of National Education and The Council of Higher Education budget in
total consolidated budget has risen from 9.8% in 1996 to 13% in 2005. In 2003, the
government set up the 'Let's go to school girls' campaign together with UNICEF and with
support from NGOs, the EU, the World Bank, the private sector and media with the goal to
close the gender-gap in primary school enrolment. According to UNICEF, the campaign has
resulted in the enrolment of 177,000 girls and 87,000 boys in 53 provinces 23 . The Ministry of
National Education decided to expand the campaign to all the country's 81 provinces.

22
23

See vol. 5. Gender Projects.

See UNICEF Report in doc. no. 25.

14

The campaign has done much to raise awareness about the gender gap in education and
women's rights. Besides, within the context of the 'Social Risk Mitigation Project' of the World
Bank and the Turkish government, families with great financial problems are given what is
called 'Conditional Cash Transfers'. This means that the families get financial incentives
provided that they send their children to school and extra amount of cash transfers are
provided for sending girls to school.
According to 2004 data 79.6% of women as opposed to 95.3% of men over 15 years of age
are literate. When youth literacy rate is considered this female figures increase (between
ages 15-24) to rate 93.3%. According to the numbers of 1997-1998 girl child school
enrolment was at primary level 75.6% at secondary level 33.8% and at university/higher
education level 9.5% and all these figures are increasing respectively to 92.2%, 42.4% and
12.0%, in 2004-2005 24 .
In 2004-2005 year at secondary level schools total girl child enrolment is 1.306.408 as
opposed to 1.733.041 numbers of male (F/M female ratio to male 75.4). Only 415.339 girls
of this numbers are going to vocational school as opposed to 687.055 numbers of male (F/M
female ratio to male 60.5). At non-formal education level the number of females is 1.473.065
and male 1.978.450 (F/M female to male ratio 74.5%) 25 .
In higher education, total number of female is 812.302 (41.2% of total) as opposed to
1.134.140 male and F/M ratio is 71.6%. In academic professional positions 38.5% of total
and 26% of professors are female. These are quite surprisingly high numbers according to
globally lower rate of female over the world in academic positions 26 .
The positive impact of the eight-year compulsory basic education reform on female
enrollment is should be noted. Another positive aspect is the continuing trend for womens
entry into higher education and professional careers; by contrast, ongoing gender-based
character of technical vocational education is seen as an impediment to womens chances of
involvement in income-generating activities. It is also clear that the continuing genderinsensitive and sexist character of educational materials, settings and actors in primary and
secondary education which is inhibiting womens empowerment and access to the public
sphere 27 .
3.2. Health
Since Turkey participated to International Conference on Population and Development
(ICPD) which was held in Cairo (1994) and the United Nations Fourth World Conference on
Women in Beijing (1995) shifts have occurred in policies related to womens health. This new
perspective was a maturation of legal frame of health policies that signifies a change from a
24

See HDI index doc.no. 39.

MEB, 2004-2005, see www.kssgm.gov.tr/istatistics/toplumsalcinsiyetgostergeleri (hereinafter TCG)
26
TCG
27
for more details see doc.no. 4, ch.3.
25

15

traditional domestic one which was reducing reproductive roles of women to instruments of
birth and to biological reproduction, to the new one which respecting individual rights of
women to decide whether or not, when, how often to have a child. This new legal perspective
does not allow discrimination by marital status in delivering public services related with
population planning including fertility regulation, providing and producing contraceptives and
surgical sterilization 28 .
In Turkey, programs have been initiated to improve the status of women, which is a crucial
determinant of their reproductive and sexual health. In 1996 DGSPW and the MCH/FP
prepared A National Strategic Plan on Womens Health. UNFPA 3rd Country Program has
been prepared on Reproductive and Sexual Health (R/SH) by gender perspective 29 .
Despite these positive developments, when the implementations to be considered in the real
life situations at the peripheral levels it is not much favorable for women in terms of gender
equality because of the attention not much given in the practices of the health care providers.
Reproductive and Sexual Health including Family Planning are major concerns in the country.
Approximately 2 million pregnancies occur in Turkey in one year. 1.4 million deliveries, more
than 300 thousand induced abortions take place. High-risk pregnancies are still widespread.
The total fertility rate (TFR) is 2.2 per women, annual population growth rate is 1.2 (%, 2004).
The infant mortality rate (IMR) is 28 per thousand for the year 2004. Unfortunately, perinatal
causes of infant mortality are still common in the country and perinatal mortality rate is 24 per
thousand total births, which indicate the needs of improvement in reproductive health of
mothers.
Throughout the years the coverage of antenatal care (ANC) has increased in 2003 being
81% of all pregnant women. The likelihood of a mother receiving ANC increases markedly
with the increase in the mothers education. The proportion of safe delivery was 83% in 2003,
which means approximately one in six pregnant women delivers without any medical help
(assisted by traditional births attendants at home) in Turkey. The prevalence of safe delivery
increases by the increase in the level of education of women and the husbands. Education
level of women is a key determinant of women in the utilization of the health care services 30 .
Early age of marriage is one of the common problems in Turkey. Age at first marriage for
female is 20.0, for male 23.6 years. Unwanted and high-risk pregnancies are seen a lot in
Turkey (i.e. 63.4% of currently married women who dont want any more children; 20.1% of
births in the last 5 years were unwanted; 13.9% of births were mistimed; 39.0% of births in
the last 5 years were in high risk category) 31 . Motherhood at a very young age leads to
maternal deaths. The underlying factors of maternal deaths are again socio-economic status

28

see results of research Akn (2006), vol. 7.1.3 Bibliography on Womens Health.

29

see UNFPA projects.

see vol. 7.1. 3 Bibliography on Womens Health, Akn and Bahar-Ozvar, (2004)
31
ibid.
30

16

of individuals and community, gender discrimination, cultural issues, health care services and
so on.
Turkey is a country where recording and notification of health statistics are very often missing
and incomplete. Almost none of the data related to health including birth and death
information, has been determined-collected routinely. Statistical information about the
country is generally obtained from large-scale representative sampling unit surveys or
information is estimated by projections 32 .
All indicators necessitate the improvement of womens health and health care services in
Turkey. In order to attain this goal, a more strengthened primary health care service policy
and implementation strategy, a holistic approach towards womens health, improvement of
the recording-notification system, integration of gender sensitive policies into the main plan
and programs of the country, cooperation and collaboration between sectors, monitoring and
evaluation of the results and operating the existing mechanisms are required.
3.3. Agriculture and Rural Women
Problems of rural women are closely associated with agrarian and rural structure of Turkey.
Because of fragmented and small land holding and falling rates of return on agrarian
production, men migrate to search work in the cities and women assume the responsibilities
on the land without necessarily having access to required resources, information and
decision making authority.
According to 2005 data total female population is 25.617.000 and 9.815.000 of this number is
living in rural areas. Employed female labour force number in urban areas is 2.525.000 and
in rural areas is 3.175.000. Employment rate of the female population is respectively 19.3%
in urban and 33.7% in rural areas. Female rate of work force participation decreases when
moved from rural to urban areas due to different factors, while male work force participation
quite similarly the same with 73.5% in rural areas and 71.5 % in urban areas 33 .
Female work force participation according to the sectors is quite asymmetrical that is in
51.6% agriculture, 14.6% in industry, 0.5% in construction and 33.3% in services. Most of the
female labour force workers in rural areas (89%) are exclusively working in agriculture and
most of them (81.9%) are working as unpaid family workers. As oppose to this pattern in
urban areas more than half of female work force is working in the service sector 34 .
A gender-based analysis of agricultural sector provides a clear picture of gender differences
in economic activities. Different roles of women and men in agriculture and husbandry,
32

Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies (HUNEE) is periodically doing this kind of large scale exampled, Turkeys
Population and Health Research (TNSA), see vol. 8.6. Main Research on Women/ Reproductive Health of Women. For
figures of this research see Referance Documents doc.no. 34.
33
TCG
34
TCG

17

gender differences on the basis of land-ownership, farm size, type of crop, technology use
and productivity need more attention. It is a fact that academic work on rural women and
rural poverty is quite scarce in Turkey, and that studies specifically on the poverty of rural
women are almost absent. Participation patterns of women in rural work, low rate of land
ownership and the division of labor in agriculture prevent women to have equal access to
opportunities such as credit, machinery and new land. What is more critical is that the fact
that most of the existing rural development projects lack a gender component or are at least
gender blind in their implementations. A closer review of the agricultural sector will make the
gender-based prevalence of rural poverty and its implications for the future.
There is strictly a conserved gender division of labour in agriculture. Women are more
heavily involved in livestock production activities than crop production activities and more
involved in the middle phases (weeding, hoeing) of crop production than in the early (land
preparation) and latter stages (marketing). Women are more involved in vegetable, tuber and
fruit (special crops) productions than cereal production and perform more labor-intensive
tasks compared to men who perform more mechanized tasks. Mechanization in agriculture
has a negative impact on womens involvement in agricultural production. Womens
production activities intensify to perform the processing of crop and livestock production for
household consumption. Womens working location is closer to home than that of men.
Womens involvement in agriculture is greater in the summer months, when the harvest
takes place and when mens off-farm employment opportunities are at the peak and work (at
peak seasons) longer hours than men and have inferior working conditions. There are tasks
that are performed only by men such as pruning, grafting and chemical spraying. The
demand for these skilled activities in peak periods is met by employing outsiders even if
there is an available female labor supply in the family.
Inequality in womens access to land puts woman farmers in a disadvantaged position.
These are: limited access to land, lack of technology suitable for women workers, poor
access to extension services, limited intra-household transfer of agricultural knowledge,
womens limited access to financial services lack of mobility and time, lack of education, lack
of incentives and a limited role in decision making at different levels. Among these
constraints, land ownership plays a strategic role.
In Turkey, as in many developing countries, there are no data on how land ownership varies
by gender. The agricultural census will not provide data on landownership by gender.
Several rural development projects of varying scope and size have been implemented in
Turkey. These are aimed at a planned approach. The majority of them aimed at reducing
regional disparities and look at rural women from a modernization point of view.
Government funded projects are carried out by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
(MARA), the Ministry of National Education, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, and the
Ministries of State responsible for (public) Credit Institutions.

18

The newly established Department for Women in Rural Development of MARA has
delivered training and extension services since 1998. 35 There is a new attempt to transfer
agricultural information to rural women, although home economics remains as the main
activity. The purpose of the home economics program is to increase the living standards of
rural families. This is achieved by transferring new information and techniques to rural
women and by improving their skills..
NGO activities concerning rural women are quite limited. The most important NGO is Trkiye
Kalknma Vakf (TKV). TKV also cooperates closely with the GAP Administration. The socalled ATOMs 36 benefit to a certain extent from this cooperation.
There are actually very few studies on rural poverty in Turkey, especially on the poverty of
rural women.
The ongoing agricultural reform in Turkey is at its beginning stages and is still gender blind.
There is no awareness of mens and womens specific and different roles in agricultural
production. This will probably have serious implications for the transition crops (such as
hazelnut and tobacco) component of the reform. The reform offers financial incentives to
farmers who will change to other (non-surplus) crops. But this crop transition can also mean
changes in the way of life and has different implications for women and men. The
incentives suffer from gender blindness: however, corrections in future stages of the reform
might be possible 37 .
3.4. Participation of Women to Labour Market
According to labour market participation data, the Turkish employment rate of women is
currently around 27% in 2004, whereas in 1998 the figure was still 35%. This points to a
chronic decrease in the participation of women in the Turkish official labour market. This
means more and more women are losing out on the labour market. This trend needs to be
stopped, and reversed. The reasons for the decrease in women's participation are diverse.
Economic growth in Turkey is not followed by an increase in job opportunities. Many women
have a low level of education, hindering their access to the labour market. Discrimination of
women in the labour market also remains a problem, revealing the underlying biases of a
society which is to some degree still patriarchal.
Gender discrimination in labour market is quiet clear. Different patterns of labor force
participation of women according to men by employment category, level, sector (public
versus private and formal versus informal) and points to differences between the sexes in
earning power, work conditions and benefits, including childcare and on-the-job training
opportunities should be taken seriously to review. The impact of the gender division of labor

35

Krsal Kalknmada Kadn Dairesi Bakanl.

Multipurpose Community Centers
37
for more information see doc.no. 4, vol. 7.
36

19

at home on womens and mens labor market choices and performances is affecting gender
asymmetry in labour market. Female employment is concentrated on public sector and as
civil servants. The number of women civil servants showed a slight increase over years,
reaching the ratio of 26% according to 2002 figures of middle and high-level decision makers
within public administration are women 38 .
What is the most serious trend in Turkey is the steady decline in the overall labor force
participation rates of women that can partly be attributed to demographics (the high ratio of
the young female population) and social change (rural to urban migration and cultural factors
such as womens domestic role and caring responsibilities), but there are also economic
reasons that account for womens low and declining rate of labor force participation and their
unemployment.
There is an ongoing decrease in the participation of women in Turkish official labour market,
this in contrast to the rise of womens participation in the informal sector, which is often a
result of the low level of education of many women.
The absence of women in the official labour market is to some extent also explained by their
disproportional representation in the informal labour market, in which they often work as
unregistered home workers. Women often are unable to leave the informal sector because
their level of education is too low, they are house-bound by their care for children and sick or
elderly relatives and because of discrimination when it comes to hiring workers in the formal
sector.
Labour legislation has already been improved, and gender equality policy of Turkey has
several projects which seek to improve the number of women who are gainfully employed,
such as vocational training programmes and programmes supporting women entrepreneurs.
What is surprising is, in some areas women are doing very well, with around 30% of lawyers,
academics and doctors are women. Trade unions could play an important role in organizing
women already in the labour force and those seeking to be gainfully employed, so that it
becomes easier for women to take part in the labour market. In this light this report also calls
for unionization of the informal sector and training of union representatives concerning
women's rights issues.
Male dominated model of participation is also prevalent in labour unions. In Turkey, only 1415% of all registered women workers are organized in trade unions that amounts to 100.000
women and means 10% membership rate of all unions. According to the official figures of
Ministry of Labour the number of registered female workers are 793.847 in 2002 and 51.53%
of these women that are 409.099 are unionized 39 . In reality, these figures are not reliable
because of non-dropping the registered people when they quit, resigned or got out from job

38
39

TCG.
TCG

20

and at the same time from union membership. Due to this fact, the above estimated figures
by gender experts should be taken more close to reality 40 .
This low unionization rate for female workers is not the result of the employment structure
only, but the patriarchal pattern of organizational participation in Turkey. When we consider
the female representation in decision making bodies in labour unions the situation becomes
clearer. In TURK-IS (the largest labour confederation), none of the 27 labour unions have
female members in their central executive committees. The situation is similar for two other
smaller confederations, HAK-IS and DISK 41 .
A greater reliance on market development and increased deregulation and free market
flexibility in the Turkish economy since the 1980s have intensified the existing gender
inequalities with respect to types and conditions of work, wages and social security. It is also
to be argued that not only are women in the cities (mostly rural migrants) often working in
enterprises where labor law standards are not strictly enforced, but also that employer beliefs,
preferences and prejudices against women play an important role in the implementation of
many rules and regulations with respect to gender equality. It is argued that employers find
numerous ways of circumventing the laws enacted to ensure gender equality and to prevent
gender discrimination in the workplace. Furthermore, the existing protective legislation is
also seen as limiting womens employment opportunities, particularly as regards to
recruitment into non-traditional jobs, and is viewed as an obstacle to their career
development.
Another fact must be underlined related with occupational segregation, unemployment and
underemployment and the need to maximize family income, women in Turkey are
increasingly taking part in activities in the informal sector. Working in the informal sector has
detrimental effects, not only because of low wages but also because there are no social
security benefits and guarantees. Moreover, limited access to resources, products, market,
credit and infrastructure pose serious problems for women in the informal sector 42 .
In the international context, womens micro-enterprise activities are perceived as buffer
mechanisms to control poverty and unrest in the underdeveloped world. They have thus
been supported by governments, international agencies and the media in the last two
decades. Locating womens micro-enterprise activity in Turkey in this context has particular
difficulties. Women as micro-entrepreneurs in Turkey faced different difficulties among them,
the lack of access to formal credit channels, the complexity of formal registration procedures,
and the persistence of traditional gender role expectations must be addressed. It is
suggested that women micro-entrepreneurs should receive increased institutional and
educational support by the reason of the significance of micro-enterprise activity for its
potential to empower women in the private domain as well as to provide income. KUR
offers capacity building courses for unemployed persons who are actively seeking for work.
40

See Toksz (2002) invol. 7.1.1 general bibliography

See TUSIAD (2000), vol.3 in vol. 7.2.2., doc.no. 31.
42
for more detailed analysis on female labor force see TUSAD (2000), vol.2, doc.no. 31. and doc.no. 4, vol.5.
41

21

Over the years, roughly 75% of the participants of these courses are women
(CEDAW/C/TUR/4-5 43 )

43

see doc.no. 9, p. 32

22

4. LEGAL REFORMS FOR GENDER EQUALITY

4.1. Constitution Article 10 Amendment 14

In October 2001, Article 41 of the Constitution was amended, redefining the family as an
entity that is "based on equality between spouses. The new article reads: "The family is the
foundation of Turkish society and is based on equality between spouses". In addition, the
statement The government is responsible to enforce equality between man and woman
was added to Article 10 of the Turkish Constitution in May 2004.
4.2. Penal Code
The new Turkish Penal Code (TPC) was enacted in 2004. It constitutes a major step towards
gender equality and protection of womens human rights in terms of bodily and sexual
autonomy. It was achieved by a unique civic campaign designed by womens organizations
called as Platform for TPC and succeeded in creating a holistic reform to transform the
philosophy and principles of the Penal Code in order to safeguard womens rights. Sexual
crimes are regulated as crimes against individuals/crimes against the inviolability of sexual
integrity, instead of as crimes against society, family or public morality. All references to
vague patriarchal constructs such as chastity, morality, shame, public customs, or decency
have been eliminated and definitions of such crimes against women were brought in line with
global human rights norms.
4.3. Civil Code
Following the amendment of the Consitution the new Turkish Civil Code, which abolishes the
supremacy of men in marriage and thus establishes the full equality of men and women in
the family was approved by TBMM on November 22, 2001, and came into effect on January
1, 2002.
The new Civil Code has taken a new approach to the family and to womens role in the family.
The old legal approach, which assigned women a legislatively subordinate position in the
family with rights and duties defined in respect to the husband, has been abandoned in favor
of one that defines the family as a union based on equal partnership. Consequently, this new
concept is also reflected in the language of the new Code. The new approach to the family is
reflected in several changes:
The new Code sets the equal division of property acquired during marriage as a default
property regime, assigning an economic value to womens hitherto invisible labor for the
well-being of the family household.
It also sets 18 as the legal minimum age for marriage for both women and men (it was
previously 17 for men and 15 for women), gives the same inheritance rights to children

23

born outside marriage as those born within marriage, and allows single parent to adopt
children.
The husband is no longer the head of the family; spouses are equal partners, jointly
running the matrimonial union with equal decision-making powers;
Spouses have equal rights over the family abode;
Spouses have equal rights over property acquired during marriage;
Spouses have equal representative powers;
The concept of illegitimate children, which was used for children born out of wedlock,
has been abolished; the custody of children born outside marriage belongs to their
mothers.

4.4. Family Protection Law (No. 4320)

In January 1998, the TBMM ratified a new law against domestic violence. Law No. 4320 is
designed to protect women who suffer from domestic violence by removing them
immediately from the atmosphere of violence.
4.5. Optional Protocol to CEDAW
Optional Protocol to Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW) prepared by UN and presented to the approval of the signatory states of
CEDAW was ratified by government and signed by TBMM in 2001.
Signatory states of the protocol shall recognize the competence of the Committee on the
Elimination of Discrimination against Women -- the body that monitors States parties'
compliance with the Convention -- to receive and consider complaints from individuals or
groups within its jurisdiction. Committee on CEDAW shall ask the State claimed of breach as
a consequence of the inquiry to take necessary precautions and to refrain from harming the
rights of the complaining individual or groups.
4.6. Labor Code (No. 4857)
The articles in the Labor Code and other relevant laws, pertaining to job security have been
amended and are been into force on 15 March 2003. The amended law protects the
employee against all forms of discrimination on the basis of race, sex, marital status, family
responsibilities, pregnancy, religion, political opinion and social and ethnic origin. By the new
amendment, sexual harassment in the workplace is clearly indicated in the act number
4857 as protective measures.

24

4.7. Municipal Law (No: 5393)

Law was amended in July 13, 2005, with the Article 14 (a):
metropolitan municipalities and municipalities with larger than 50,000 population shall
establish shelters for women and children
shall provide or arrange for emergency relief, rescue, and ambulance services social
services and assistance services
It is the provision as introduced by the new Municipal Law defines a clear legal responsibility
for metropolitan municipalities and municipalities with more than 50,000 populations. There is
a need for adoption of secondary legislation on the basis of the above-referred provision of
the Law, with participation of SHEK and womens organizations specializing in the subject
matter.
It should also be possible to interpret the expression social services and assistance in the
text of new legislation as within the scope of measures for protection against domestic
violence. In that context, the institutions of Social Centers, Centers for Womens Counseling
and Solidarity provide appropriate platforms for cooperation between womens organizations
and local administrations particularly as regards violence directed at women.
For legal reforms: http://www.die.gov.tr/tkba/English_TKBA/mevzuat.htm

25

5. GENDER INFORMATION RESOURCES

5.1. Womens Organizations in Turkey

In Turkey different womens organizations and civil society organizations struggling for
gender equality can be seen. In this context, variety of activities, including diverse issues
such as training for empowerment and awarness-raising of women, pushing for gendersensitive legislation, building shelters for battered women, as well as advocacy for womens
rights have been taken up by womens groups and organizations with increasing
effectiveness and impact in the recent past.
Struggles of womens organizations continued to concentrate on the issues of violation of
womens human rights in the family and elimination of obstacles to participate in the public
realm and social life. Such activism experienced a turning point after the end of 1980s.
Through these efforts, during the 1990s, womens organizations facilitated the processes of
creating some common goals for womens empowerment, in cooperation with other civil
society organizations and governmental bodies such as DGSPW by campaigning for current
issues.
Among these womens organizations some religious oriented ones are giving priority to the
issues of empowerment of women in family life with strong references to womens roles as
mothers and wives. Other secularist womens organizations were positioning themselves
against traditional/religious emphases on womens modesty and veiling, and concentrated on
modernization of female images and secularization in society. Efforts against female illiteracy,
rising the percent of primary and secondary school girl-child enrolment, organizing the
income-generating activities for women are their most favorite. Women workers
organizations have concentrated on to define womens issues from the perspective of the
lower classes with special emphasis on female poverty and low level of wages of women
workers as well as female identities articulated with ethnicity, gender and income disparities.
Kurdish womens organizations in east and south-east regions have been voicing against
specific issues like political violence, ethnic discriminations, regional disparities, mostly on
domestic violence, honour crimes and other violation against women that are considered to
be the very reasons of the deprivation of them.
Despite their verying priorities most of them are succeeded in cooperating on a gender
equality agenda which includes main problems related to the violation of womens human
rights. Gender equality agenda of womens organizations includes the issues of increasing
womens enrolment rate to all level of education, resisting to the decreasing rate of female
employment, creating supports for more place to women in decision-making processes in
political organizations, waging for quota for womens participation, and eliminating all kind of
domestic, sexual violation against women.

26

As a form of activity some of them choose the loose network of organizations as platforms
and arrange campaigns for more concentration on single gender issue. Platforms connect
womens organizations for current issues like domestic violence or any legislative
amendment for further legal gender sensitivity. Campaigns generally aim to mobilize
womens organizations energy to form a current discussion related with womens interests in
TBMM or on media that refers the facts supposed to be violating the womens human rights.
Changing trends, prevalent in womens NGOs in Turkey, in the last two decades can be
stated as from service, elite, charity, volunteer-based organizations to organizations involved
in self-help, advocacy, fund-raising, networking, professionally conducted joint activities and
globally oriented agenda setting. This maturing state of womens organizations can be
observed in womens NGOs increasing capacity for public visibility, enhanced position of
bargaining with governmental bodies and notable achievements in fund-raising supported by
international organizations like UN, EU.
Despite their success in forcing legislation for gender equality in the TBMM and beginning to
hold position as social partners for decision making process of in NWM they are still facing
the problems of discontinuity and de-institutionalization and have limited access to national
butget and depends on international funds. In addition they are still suffering from the lack of
a strong political will on the part of decision-makers backing Turkeys gender equality
perspective in society and in political decision making bodies 44 .
5.2. List of Organizations
5.2.1. Organizations for Womens Health
Trkiye Aile Planlamas Dernei (Turkish Family Planning Association)
Tel: 0312 441 78 00, website: www.tapd.org.tr
Trkiye Aile Planlamas Ve Sal Vakf (Turkish Family Planning and Health
Fundation)
Tel: 0212 2577941, website: www.tapv.org.tr
Anne ocuk Eitim Vakf (Mother and Child Training Fundation)
Website: www.acev.org
5.2.2. Organizations for Womens Human Rights
Avrupa Kadn Lobisi Trkiye Ulusal Koordinasyonu (European Womens Lobby
National Coordination of Turkey)
E-Mail: [email protected] Tel: 0312 467 88 16
44

for womens NGOs projects see vol 6. 3. , for publications see vol. 7.1.6. and for documentations
and special reports see vol. 7.2.4.

27

Cedaw Sivil Toplum Yrtme Kurulu (CEDAW-NGO Steering Committee), (Platform

organization for monitoring the governmental implementation of CEDAW)
(Coordination Secreteriat of platform in 2006 is Trk Kadnlar Birlii)
Tunus Cad. No:81/2, Kavakldere Ankara. Tel: (312) 4671770
5.2.3. Womens Organizations in Ankara
KA-DER Kadn Adaylar Destekleme ve Eitme Dernei (Association for Supporting
and Training Women Candidates)
evre sok no: 29/2, ankaya-Ankara. Tel: 0312 467 88 16
Website: http://www.ka-der.org.tr
Ankara Kadn Dayanma Vakf (Ankara Womens Solidarity Foundation)
Mithatpasa cad. 10/11,Shhiye Ankara. Tel: 0312 4304005
E-Mail: [email protected] , [email protected]
Bakent Kadn Platformu (Capital City Womens Platform)
Glseren sok. Yonca apt. No:22 D:4,06570 Maltepe,Ankara. Tel: 0312 232 1250
E-Mail:[email protected],[email protected],
[email protected] Website: www.baskentkadinplatformu.org
Ankara Barosu Kadn Haklar Kurulu (Ankara Bar Board for Womens Rights)
Ankara Adliye Saray, Ankara Barosu, Shhiye Ankara.Tel: : 0312 3115115
Website: www.ankarabarosu.org.tr
Trk Kadnlar Birlii Genel Merkezi (Turkish Women Association Head Office) Central
Office)
Tunus Cad. No:81/2, Kavakldere Ankara.Tel: 0312 4671770.
E-Mail: [email protected]
Cumhuriyet Kadnlar Dernei Genel Merkezi (Republican Women Association Head
Office)
Necatibey Cad. No:27/15,Ankara.Tel: 0312 2299371 E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.ckd.org.tr
agdas Kadn ve Genlik Vakf (The Foundation for Contemporary Women and Youth)
Tp Fakltesi Cad. No: 243, Tuzluayr Ankara.Tel: 0312 3645348, 4661152
Uan Sprge (Flying Broom)
Bykeli sok. 20/4, Kavakldere Ankara. Tel: 0312 4270020,
Website: http://www.ucansupurge.org
Ankaral Feministler (Feminists in Ankara)
Tel: (Perihan Tunbilek) 0532 7918803, E-Mail: [email protected]

28

Emeki Kadnlar Birlii (Proletarian Womens Association)

General Zeki Doan Mah. 3. Cadde 42/12,Mamak Ankara, Tel: 0312 4338412,
E-Mail: [email protected]
Kaos GL Dernei (Kaos GL Association)
Tel: 0312 2300358, E-Mail: [email protected]
Krkrk Kadna Ynelik iddetle Mcadele Kooperatifi (Krkoruk Cooperative For
Combating Violence Against Women)
Gazi Mustafa Kemal Bulvar, 14/4 Kzlay. Tel:0312 229 2291,
E-Mail: [email protected]
5.2.4. Womens Organizations in Istanbul and Marmara Region
Kadn Adaylar Destekleme ve Eitme Dernei (KA-DER Association for Supporting
and Training Women Candidates)
rfan Batu Cad. Yuva Apt. No: 15/7, Esentepe stanbul. Tel: 0212 2732535
Website: http://www.ka-der.org.tr
Mor at Kadn Sna Vakf (Purple Roof Women's Shelter And Foundation)
Katip Mustafa elebi Mah. Anadolu Sk.23/8, Beyolu stanbul. Tel: 0212 2925232
E-Mail: [email protected]
Pazartesi Dergi ( Pazartesi Newspaper)
Tel: (Beyhan) 0535 5034082/ 0212 2495959. E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: www.pazartesi.org
stanbul Barosu Kadn Haklar Uygulama Merkezi (stanbul Bar Center for Women's
Rights)
stiklal Cad. Orhan Adli Apaydn Sokak 1. Baro Han,Kat:3, 80050 stanbul.
Tel: 0212 2927739, E-Mail: [email protected],
Website: http://www.istanbulbarosu.org.tr/
KAGDER-Kadn Giriimcileri Dernei (Association For Women Entrepreneurs)
Ortaklar Cad. 4/13, 80290 Mecidiyeky stanbul. Tel: 0212 2130162.
Website: www.kagider.org
KADIN FONU (WOMENS FUND) (co-organization of KAGDER)
Website: http://www.kagider.org.tr

KADAV- Kadnlarla Dayanma Vakf (Foundation for Solidarity with Women)

stiklal Caddesi, Gazeteci Erol Dernek Sokak, Hanif Han No: 11/5, Beyolu- stanbul.
Tel: 0212 2515850, Website: http://www.kadav.org

29

Filmmor Kadn Kooperatifi (Filmmor Women's Cooperative)

stiklal Caddesi, Gazeteci Erol Dernek Sokak, Hanif Han No: 11/5, Beyolu- stanbul
Tel: 0212 2923929. E-Mail: [email protected],Website: www.filmmor.com
Kadnn nsan Haklar Yeni zmler Vakf (Foundation of Women for Womens
Human Rights- New Ways/ WWHR)
nn Cad. No.37/6 Saadet Apt. Gmsuyu, 34439-stanbul.Tel: 0212 2510029
E-Mail: [email protected], Website: http://www.wwhr.org
Amargi Kadn Bilim ve Kltr Aratirma Yayn Kooperatifi (Amargi Womens
Cooperative)
rdek Kasap mah. Karakoyunlu sok. No: 10 D: 6 34022, Beyolu-stanbul.
Tel: 02122510154, Email: [email protected],
Website: http://www.amargi.org.tr
WINPEACE (Womens Initiative For Peace)
rfan Batu Caddesi Yuva Apt. No:5/3, Esentepe stanbul. Tel: 0212 2732535
Web: www.winpeace.org
Trk Hukuku Kadnlar Dernei (Turkish Jurist Womens Association)
Civan Sokak No:6/2,ili stanbul. Tel: 0212 2510591. E-Mail: [email protected]
Kadn Eserleri Ktphanesi ve Bilgi Vakf (Foundation for Women's Library and
Information Centre)
Fener Mah. Ptt Yan Vapur skelesi Kars, Hali stanbul. Tel: 0212 5237408
E-Mail: [email protected]
Pazartesi-Kadn Kltr Ve letiim Vakf (Woman Culture And Communication
Fundation)
Abdullah Sk.No:9, Beyolu / Taksim, stanbul. Tel: 0212 2495959.
E-Mail: [email protected]
KEDV- Kadn Emeini Deerlendirme Vakf (Foundation for Supporting Womens
Handcraft)
ehit Muhtar Mah. stiklal Cad. Bekar Sok. No: 17, Beyolu stanbul.
Tel: 0212 2491508, E-Mail: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected]
Website: www.kedv.org.tr

Ev Eksenli alan Kadnlar alma Grubu (Home- Based Working Women Study
Group)
Tahir Paa Sok. No: 15/5, engelky stanbul. Tel: 0216 3180615,
E-Mail: [email protected]

30

AK-DER Ayrmcla Kar Kadn Haklar Dernei (Womens Rights Association

Against Discrimination)
Haseki Cad. Kee Hatun Mah. No: 10/4, stanbul. Tel: 0212 5290456.
E-Mail: [email protected], Website: www.ak-der.org
ahmaran Kadn Dayanma ve Aratrma Merkezi (Center for Solidarity and Research
for Women)
Kayda Yolu Cad. No 26/8 erenky/ Kadky stanbul. Tel: 0216 5737433
E-Mail: [email protected]
Gkkua Kadn Dernei (Rainbow Womens Association)
ehit Muhtar Mah. Nane Sk. Npo.17/5 Beyolu stanbul. Tel: 0212 2448300
E-Mail: [email protected]
Lambda
Bykparmakkap Sk. Halas Ap. 20/4, Beyolu stanbul. Tel: 212 245 70 68
E-Mail: [email protected], Website: www.lambdaistanbul.org
Gkkua stanbul Kadn Kurulular Platformu (stanbul Rainbow Womens
Organizations Platform/ GKAP)
Molla eref Mah. Millet Cad. No: 52/9 Fatih, Aksaray stanbul. Tel: 0212 5326985
E-Mail: [email protected], [email protected], Web: www.gikap.org
Gkkua (Rainbow- Association of Transsexuals, Transvestite and Homosexuals)
Orhanbey Mh. Atatrk Cd. Oba han No:45 B.No703, Osmangazi BURSA.
Tel: 0 224 225 28 03-04, E-Mail: [email protected]
Deirmendere Kadn Destek Merkezi (Degirmendere Center For Women )
Tel: 0555 3926126. E-Mail: [email protected]
5.2.5. Womens Organizations in Eastern Turkey

KA-MER -Kadn Merkezi (Womens Centre KA-MER)

Ali Emiri 3. Sokak Eal Apt. No.3, Yeniehir DYARBAKIR. Tel: 0412 2281053
E-Mail: [email protected], Website: http://www.kamer.org.tr/

DKASUM- Diyarbakr Kadn Sorunlar Uygulama Merkezi Diyarbakr (Centre For

Womens Issues)
Ulu cami yan eski belediye binas kat:2, no:2 Balklar bai Diyarbakr.
Tel: 0412 228 56 84
EPDEM Kadn Eitim ve Psikolojik Danmanlk Merkezi
Education and Psychological Consultancy)
31

(Centre for Womens

Vilayet arkas lise cad. sanl apt. no: 7, Diyarbakr. Tel: 0412 223 51 20.
E-Mail: [email protected] ,
Website: http://www.diyarbakiryenisehir.bel.tr/birim.aspx?ID=epidem
Kardelen Kadn Evi (Kardelen Womens House)
Hatboyu cad. tm memurlar sitesi, A blok no: 1-2 Balar, Diyarbakr.
Tel: 0412 233 83 90, E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.baglar.bel.tr/KardelenKadinEvi.html
SELIS Kadn Danmanlk Merkezi (Consultancy Centre For Women)
Diyarbakr, Tel: 0412 2247728, E-Mail: [email protected]
KADMER- Kzltepe Kadn Danma Merkezi- (Kzltepe Consultancy Centre For
Women)
Cumhuriyet Mah. Hastane Cad., gretmenler Lojman Zemin Kat, Kzltepe/ Mardin
Tel: : 0482 312 53 31
Kzltepe Kadn Kooperatifi (Kzltepe Womens Cooperative)
Mardin, Tel: 0482 3135804
KAMER Mardin Kadn Danma Merkezi (Mardin Consultancy Centre For Women)
Yeni kent Cad. Atilla Apt. Kat: 1 No: 3, Yeniehir Mardin. Tel: 0482 212 23 53
E-Mail: [email protected]
anlurfa KA-MER (anlurfa Womens Centre KA-MER)
Baheli evler Mah. 11. Sokak, Marmara apt. no: 2, anlurfa. Tel: : 0414 313 95 56
E-Mail: [email protected]
Yaam Evi (Life House)
Bahelievler mah. 8.sok, Yla apt kat: 2 no:5 Urfa. Tel: 0414 315 17 25
E-Mail: [email protected]
Malatya Kadn Danma Merkezi (Malatya Consultancy Centre for Women)
stemiye Mah. Blkemin 2.sok, Yaar Kardeler i merkezi 2/40, Malatya
Tel: 0505 641 59 54

Elaz Kadn Danma Merkezi (Elaz Consultancy Centre for Women )

zzet Paa Camii Arkas Polatlar-2, Merkezi Kat:4 No:4, Elaz.
Tel: 0505 229 98 53
SELS Kadn Danmanlk Merkezi Batman (SELIS Consultancy Centre for Women
BATMAN)
Belde mah. 3245 sok., evket Baak Cami bitiii Batman. Tel: 0488 221 05 24

32

Batman Kadn Danma Merkezi (Batman Consultancy Centre for Women)

Aydn Aslan Cad. Pnarbai Mah. No: 61, BATMAN.
Tel: 0488 213 96 77, 0488 2147349, E-Mail: [email protected],
[email protected], [email protected]
Ana Fatma Kadn Dernei (Ana Fatma Womens Association)
tfaiye binas yan no: 1 Tunceli, Tel: 0428 212 26 78
Kurtalan Kadn Dernei SRT (Kurtalan Womens Association)
Tel: 0 4842249020
KA-MER Bingl Kadn Danma Merkezi (Bingl Consultancy Centre for Women)
Saray Mah. gren Otomotiv yan Temel yap kars, Dzaa / Bingl.
Tel: 0426 214 50 01, E-Mail: [email protected]
VAKAD Van Kadn Dernei (Van Womens Association)
Yznc Yl Merkezi, B/Blok Kat: 1 No.6 Van.
Adyaman Kadn Danma Merkezi
Atatrk Cad. Havuzba Apt. Kat: 2 No: 1, Belediye kars Adyaman
Tel: 0416 213 42 21, E-Mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Bostanii Kadn Kooperatifi (Bostanii Womens Cooperative)
Van. Tel: 0432 2123700/ 0432 2168304
Kars Kadn Danma Merkezi (Kars Consultancy Centre for Women)
Yusufpaa Mah. Gazi Mahmutpaa cad., Bankas karis No: 70, Kars
Doubeyazt Kadn Kooperatifi (Doubeyazt Womens Cooperative)
Kars. Tel: 0472 3124520 (Zehra akr)
Hakkari Kadn Danma Merkezi (Hakkari Consultancy Centre for Women)
Kayacan Cad. zel dare Kars Cindiolu Apt.1/1, Hakkari

5.2.6. Womens Organizations in Western Turkey

Ege Kadn Dayanma Vakf (Aegean Solidarity for Women Fund)
Halim Alanyal Han 3.Kat 316, Kemeralt-ZMR. Tel: 0232 4463223
E-Mail: [email protected]
zmir Barosu Kadn Hukuku Komisyonu (zmir Bar Board for Womens Human Rights)
1456 Sokak No: 16 Kat: 6, Alsancak zmir. Tel: 0232 4630014
zmir Kadn Dayanma Merkezi (zmir Centre for Womens Solidarity)
Tel: 0232 4821077, E-Mail: [email protected]

33

KAZETE Kadn Gazetesi (KAZETE Womens Newspaper)

Tel: 0232 4636300, E-Mail: [email protected], Website: www.kazete.com.tr
ELDER anakkale Kadn El Emeini Deerlendirme Dernei (anakkale Association
For Womens Handicraft)
Cevatpaa Mah. Celal Atik Sokak, Kent Apt. D:2, anakkale. Tel: 0286 2170603
E-Mail: [email protected]
Mula Kadn Dayanma Grubu (Mula Womens Solidarity Group)
Karabalar Yolu stanbullular Sitesi No: 16, Mula. Tel: 0252 2141433
E-Mail: [email protected]
5.2.7. Womens Organizations in Southern Turkey
Amargi Adana Grubu (Amargi Adana Group)
Tel: 0322 3630230
Kriei Kadn Dernei (Kriei Womens Association)
Kk Dikili Beldesi, Seyhan Adana. Tel: 0536 734 39 26
E-Mail: [email protected]
Adana Kadn Snmaevi Koruma Dernei (Adana Association For Supporting
Womens Shelter)
Tel: 0322 3515112, E-Mail: [email protected]
Adana Kadnlar Dernei (Adana Bussineswomen Association)
Website: www.iskad.org
Bamsz Kadn Dernei Kadn Dayanma Merkezi (Independent Womens
Association Consultancy Centre for Women)
Mersin
Antalya Kadn Danma ve Dayanma Dernei (Antalya Association for Consultancy
and Solidarity of Women)
Tel: 0242 2480766, E-Mail: [email protected]
5.2.8. Womens Studies and Research Center in Universities
KASAUM Ankara niversitesi Kadn Sorunlar Aratrma Ve Uygulama Merkezi (Ankara
University Womens Studies Centre)
A..letiim Fakltesi, Cemal Grsel Caddesi, Cebeci/ ANKARA.
E-Mail: [email protected]
HKSAM Hacettepe niversitesi Kadn Sorunlar Aratrma Uygulama Merkezi
(Hacettepe University Research and Implementation Centre on Womens Issues)

34

Hacettepe niversitesi Tp Fakltesi, Halk Sal Anabilim Dal 06100 Shhiye, ANKARA.
Tel: 0312 305 15 90, E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.huksam.hacettepe.edu.tr
KAUM stanbul niversitesi Kadn Sorunlar Aratrma ve Uygulama Merkezi
(University of stanbul Research Center for Womens Studies)
Mrkz.: Bozdoan Kemeri Cd. No: 1.renci Kltr Merkezi, Vezneciler/STANBUL
E-Mail : [email protected] , [email protected]
Marmara niversitesi Kadn gc ve stihdam Aratrma ve Uygulama Merkezi
(University of Marmara Research and Implementation Centre For Womens Labor and
Employment)
M..Gztepe kampus, 81040- Fikirtepe stanbul. Tel: 0216 348 37 86, 0212 507 99 251479, Website: http://www.marmara.edu.tr/Akademik/?id=70
ukurova niversitesi Kadn Aratrma ve Uygulama Merkezi (University of ukurova
Women's Studies and Research Centre)
Merkezi Ktphane Kadn Eserleri Birimi Balcal/ ADANA.
E-Mail :[email protected]
EKAM Ege niversitesi Kadn Sorunlar Aratrma ve Uygulama Merkezi (Aegean
University Centre for Women's Research and Implementation)
Genlik Cad. No: 12, Bornova zmir. Tel: 0232 3733128,
Website: http://www.ekam.ege.edu.tr
5.2.9. Women and Gender Studies MA Programs and Departments
Ankara University Womens Studies M.A. Program, Cebeci- Ankara
Website: http://kasaum.ankara.edu.tr/bolum.php?bodb=619&alt=1
METU Gender& Womens Studies Graduate Program
Middle East Technical University, 06531 - Ankara
Tel: 312 210 30 19 Website: http://www.gws.metu.edu.tr/
stanbul University Womens Studies M.A. Program
stanbul University, E-Mail: [email protected]
Website: http://www.istanbul.edu.tr/merkezler/webkaum/1htm.html
Ege University Womens studies M.A. program
Ege University, Bornova, zmir, Website: http://ekam.ege.edu.tr
Pamukkale University Womens studies M.A. Program
Pamukkale University, ncilipnar Kamps Denizli, Website: www.pamukkale.edu.tr

35

6. GENDER PROJECTS

6.1. Projects of DGSPW

6.1.1. Completed Projects
Supporting Womens Employment
Partners: Trkiye KUR, Donors: World Bank, Turkish Government
Starting - ending date: 1994-2000
Project supported main research activities aimed to provide basic information about the
obstacles to and capacity for womens employment. Project also supported to design gender
training manuals for awareness rising.
6.1.2. Ongoing Projects
Promoting Gender Equality
Partners: EU Commission, Donors: EU, Starting date: 2005
Project has two main components: capacity building for national machinery for gender
equality (DGSPW) and preventing domestic violence.
4th Country Program of UNFPA for Turkey (2006-2010)
Partners: UNFPA, Donors: UNFPA, Starting date: 2006
Project aims to realize Promoting Gender Equality Project of DGSPW cited above.
6.2. Projects of Other Governmental Bodies
Different protocol agreements are in force between the DGSPW and other Ministries to work
on womens basic health, access to family planning, increased literacy and to improve
economic opportunities for women living in disadvantaged regions. Some of these activities
are as follows:
National Campaign for Girl Child Enrolment to Education
Ministry of National Education 45 is the responsible unit of NWM for gender equality in
education. By the concentrated efforts of womens organizations and NWM, compulsory 8
years education was legalized since 1997 which was particularly effective in pushing
upwards the rate of girl child enrollment to school. Full enrollment of girl child to primary level
education for 8 years is targeted in the year 2010.

45

www.meb.gov.tr

36

The specific program for Girl Child Enrollment to School that was a project of NWM jointly
designed with the participation of responsible ministerial offices, related NGOs and partly
sponsored by some native donors and UNICEF 46 is now being realized in 81 provinces until
2006.
Projects for Reproductive Health and Family Planning
Increasing the capacity of NWM in mother-child health services and family planning is the
main target of Ministry of Health and specifically by its sub-directory for Mother-Children
Health and Family Planning, with the participation of universities, NGOs and also provided
supports of international organizations (WHO, UNFPA). In addition, a project by the
European Union (EU), Program for Reproductive Health in Turkey has currently come into
the force to support NWM since the year 2003 and will last for 2 years 47 .
Projects for Womens Participation to Labor Market and Women Entrepreneurship
Ministry of Labor and Social Security (SGB) is one of the units of NWM responsible for
equal treatment of women in the work force. Also KUR (National Employment Office) as
another unit of NWM has specific targets to support activities for womens equal access to
work force. KUR is conducting training programs especially aiming to increase womens
capability in entrepreneurship with the assistance of TESK and KOSGEB.
KUR realized an EU project of Programs for Active Workforce and prepared a special
report Background Study on Labor Market and Employment in Turkey 48 that includes
gender integrated collected data on labor market.
KUR has facilitated a reporting effort on a disadvantageous group of orphaned girls hosted
in asylum of SHECEK searching for proper measures in counseling and giving vocational
training for them. This project realized with the participation of European Education
Foundation (AEV) and report was published with the title of Pilot Active Employment
Measures Fostering Social Inclusion and Cohesion with a Specific Focus on Gender Issues
(Ankara, 2006), http://www.iskur.gov.tr/mydocu/proje/proje.html
National Policy for Eliminating Domestic Violence
A new reformed legal frame is recently available for NWM in combating against domestic
violence. It includes Family Protection Law (4320), Penal Code (5237) and Municipal Law
(5393) that makes the future policies which will be designed on the way of eliminating
domestic violence more effective.
Prime Ministry of Turkey has recently regulated a statement about domestic violence
especially the cases of honor killings, which aims to report quarterly collected data and
monitoring and supervising capabilities of NWM in terms of the implementation of

46

See UNICEF Report on education doc..no.25.

www.saglik.gov.tr
48
See doc.no.26
47

37

governmental policies against sexual violence 49 . This statement is a very important turning
point on the way towards the governmental gender mainstreaming policy on eliminating
violence and it has a clear target to pick up related data by periodical reports at
governmental level. The first Quarterly Draft Report has already been prepared by DGSPW 50 .
Sheltering the Victims of Sexual and Domestic Violence
NWM with its specific agents, DGSPW and SHECEK are responsible for eliminating
domestic violence and have aimed to design networking activities between the sheltering
services, related womens NGOs, local authorities and police stations. These sheltering
policies have priority on the main gender equality agenda of Turkey that is reaching more
and more attention of public and private sectors, national and international financial supports
and resources. Despite the rapid growth of institutional capacity of womens shelters,
compared to the recent past they are still insufficient in terms of quality and quantity. This
state of prominence has been reached by huge and enduring civic campaigns by womens
NGOs voicing for the elimination of domestic violence nation wide.
The number of Women Shelters in Turkey is still very few; 12 of SHECEK, 3 of local
administrations and some others of womens NGOs. Protection and sheltering victims of
violence has primary importance on the way of empowering a national gender equality
mechanism 51 .
Preventing Women Trafficking
The issue of human trafficking with inclusion of women trafficking is targeted by Ministry of
Interior/ General Directorate of Security, with collaboration of International Organization for
Migration (IOM). 52 By the results of these efforts a specific shelter for women and girl child
forced to prostitution and victims of women trafficking is founded and an emergency call line
ALO 157 in use. Directorate General for Security with partnership of DGSPW is conducting
a capacity building project since 2003 for combating against women trafficking whose donor
was EU.
Special Commission of National Assembly on Honor Killings
Specific Report of National Assembly (date: 11.02.2006) on sexual violence and honor
killings against women is prepared which makes the political authorities aware of and
responsible for eliminating these violations of womens basic human rights 53 .
Gender Indicators Data Base of NWM
NWM has made available gender based statistics on main areas since the foundation of
Department of Women and Gender Statistics as a sub-division of TK (National Institution
of Statistics) in 1993. Main statistics and gender indicators of Turkey are available on the
49
50

51

date 04.07.2006, no 2006/17, http://basbakanlik.gov.tr//genelge_pdf/2006/17, (doc.no. 27)

doc.no.28
www.shcek.gov.tr

52

See doc. no. 5. and http://www.arem.gov.tr/Arastirma/gocmen.html

53
See doc. no. 7.

38

web page, www.kssgm.gov.tr/istatistikler and Gender Indicators Action Plan is declared as

in preparation by DGSPW.
GAP (Southeastern Anatolia Project) Regional Development Project
GAP is a governmental office and at the same time an international project for regional
development aiming to encourage efforts in consulting and assisting the capital investment
which will be profitable for regional development. With respect to this purpose, in order to
increase the capability of womens entrepreneurship skills is one of the prioritized goals of
the project. Within this frame, different training programs for women in ATOM (Multipurpose Society Centers) are available. This project is supported by different international
donors like EU, UN, etc. 54 .
Gender Equality Policies in the Process of Accession to European Union
Turkey has participated to EU Gender Equality Community Programme (2003-2006). The
European Parliament started preparing monitoring reports on womens human rights. An
evaluation on Turkeys current state of gender equality affairs in the EU accession process
can be reviewed from the Report of Program for Monitoring the Turkeys Accession Process
to European Union / Equal Opportunities for Women and Men Monitoring law and practice in
Turkey, (doc.no.3)

6.3. Womens NGOs Project

6.3.1. Projects of KAGIDER (Business Women Association)
Womens Fund
KAGDERs organization for fund raising which conducts donation campaigns from
Commercial and Occupational Chambers, Firms, Individuals, International Funds, (Starting
date: 2004 Budget: 2005-2006 250 000 Euro) aims to finance small projects of womens
NGOs (up to 30 000 Euro). Womens Fund is allocating these funds between the projects
that have been selected by the consultancies of Funds steering committee.

Projects list sponsored by Womens Fund in 2005:

Amargi Women Academy in stanbul, Adana and Antakya for conferences, seminars,
publications and also up dating their library.
FLMMOR activities in film making.

54

www.gidem.org

39

Womens Solidarity Foundations (KADAV) foundation of a new t Social Activity Center

in Kocaeli that is in the earthquake area.
Women entrepreneurship program of KA-MER- Mardin
Women entrepreneurship program of Social Voluntaries Foundation of Samsun
Yaka Collective of Women (YAKA-KOOP) in Van called as Merhaba Hayat Projesi (Hello
to Life) aiming to empower women.
Project of Yaamevi Kadn Dayanma Dernei (Yaamevi Women Solidarity Association)
in Urfa aiming to eliminate domestic violence and honor crimes.
Project of BA, Womens Programs for Local Radios which is aiming to produce special
radio programs for women.
Project of KA-DER- Ankara, empowerment of women in Local politics.

Projects list sponsored by Womens Fund in 2006:

Project by Women Solidarity Foundation- New steps Against Domestic Violence- Kocaeli
Film project of FLMMOR- Stop Violence Against Women.
ARARAT Women Solidarity Association in Ar project- eliminating violence against
women.
KAYA- Women Citizens Network (KADIN YURRTA AI) project of research aiming to
find the effective strategies against honor crimes.
All Women Association (Tm Kadnlar Dernei) in Trabzon project for womens human
rights.
YAAM EV-Urfa project for womens training and providing psychological supports

KAGIMER: Women Entrepreneurs Development Center

KAGIMER aims to support women candidates to start-up small enterprises. All women
entrepreneur candidates are equipped with necessary knowledge about running a small
business. Then they are evaluated according to their business plans and some are selected
for start-up assistance. The project includes entrepreneurship trainings to selected 60
participants and office and start-up support to 5 potential entrepreneur projects. Donors: EU,
Starting date: May 2005- December 2005
Water Drop Project
The Project aims to train and to equip women applicants, at least 50 women candidates who
are to contribute to human resources and training services to the institutions in 7 selected
provinces and assist individuals in need of guidance.
Donors: EU, Partners: IKUR, Starting date: 2005-2006
Bridge From Women To Women Project
Students from Yeditepe University Fashion Design Department, KAGIDER members and
women entrepreneurs in Mardin got together in cooperation in order to increase women
entrepreneurship and employment in Mardin.
Donors: World Bank, Starting date: 2005

40

6.3.2. Projects of KA-MER (Womens Center)

KA-MER is one of main womens organizational networks centrally grounded in Diyarbakr
and working through its 23 provincial branch in East and Southeast Anatolia. KA-MER is
specialized on sexual violence and especially on honor killings and networking from local to
global that was nominated one of the best examples of good practices in combating against
violence by government of France with award of Legion Dhonneur.
Completed and Ongoing Projects of KAMER
Centers donors listed below:

1997, by Henrich Bll Foundation

1999, by Holland Embassy, Germany Embassy
2000 by Norwegian Helsinki Committee
20002001, projects Women are looking towards future- by CORDAD, OAK Foundation,
EU Commission Turkey
200-2006 Children project Life for children, by Bernard van Leer Foundation
2002 Women entrepreneurship project by CORDAD
2002 Kzltepe Center for Women and Children by Finland Embassy
2002 Perception of violence in through migration by UNIFEM
2002 Participation of women to social life by British Council
2003 Batman Center for Women and Children by Finland Embassy
2003- 2005 Bingl Emergency Help Center for Women and Children by Holland ACT
20032004 Batman-Bingl and Kzltepe Centers openings by Henrich Bll Foundation
200320042005 Preventing Honor Killing projects by Sweden Embassy and OAK
20042005 Data Collecting on Issues of Honor Killing by British Council and Dicle
University Department of Psychology
20042005 Regional organization of women- Mardin, anlurfa, Hakkri by EU
Delegation of Turkey
20042005, Life for Children- Siverek and Hakkri by Consular of Sweden in Istanbul.
2005 Hakkri Bookstore by OSAF
20042006 Ending Domestic Violence and Honor Killings in Southeastern Turkey by
OAK Foundation
20042006 Empowerment for Womens Human Rights- Mardin-Kzltepe and anlurfa
by CHREST Foundation.
20042006 Building Foundation of KAMER by CHREST Foundation
2005 rnak House by Embassy of France
2005 Developing Enduring Methods for ending honor Killings by EU delegation of Turkey
2006 Early Childhood Alternative Education Models by Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Turkey.
20052007 Give Opportunity for Each Women by OSAF, SIDA, CHREST Foundation,
OAK Foundation, Fatusch Production

41

6.3.3. Projects of KA-DER Head Office- ISTANBUL

KA-DER is a specialized organization to support women in political decision making
processes. It is especially working through the training programs for womens candidates,
political partys female members and by electing women to the positions of decision making.
Interactive Women (Kadnlar Bilgisayar Bana)
Aim of this project is to provide basic trainings for women how to use computers and internet
devices. Courses are available for women who are working voluntarily in NGOs. Projects
designed at the first step to reach 3.000 women and at the second step the number will
increase to 50.000.
Donors: Microsoft, Intel, Marjinal, Simternet, Netron, Metro Group, e-kolay (Doan Online),
Hrriyet IK newspaper and yenibir.com, Trkiye Biliim Dernei- (TBD), Hp- Turkey , Final
Dershaneleri. Partners: TBD (Information Technologies Association of Turkey). Starting
date: 2004
MEDA Training Project (Kadn Eitimi Projesi)
In the scope of MEDA education Project 3.050 women had joined gender educations given
by KA-DER trainers and basic training materials were also designed and disseminated to use
in the need of group studies.
Donors: EU, Starting date: 1998-2001. Budget: 400.000 Euro
Matra- Empowering Women in Politics (Kadn Siyasette Glendirme Projesi)
The Project is aimed to design training programs to support women who are running for
political decision making positions and working voluntarily for NGOs.
Donors: IPP Holland, Starting date: 2003-2006
School of Politics for Women (Kadnlar iin Siyaset Okulu)
The Project is aimed to found a school of politics for women in some selected provinces that
are Ankara, stanbul, Eskiehir, zmir, Bursa, Adana. Target group of the project are women
voters, candidates and elected womens who are running at different levels of political
decision making.
Donor: Sweden Embassy, Starting date: 2006-2007. Budget: 59. 730 Euro
Lobbying for Women NGOs (Kadn Aktivistlere Lobicilik Eitimi)
The Project provides training programs for lobbying skills available to activist of KA-DER
branches all over the country including skills for campaign managment to 50 candidate
women in the next election.
Donor: NDI (National Endowment Foundation-USA). Starting date: 2006-2007

42

6.3.4. Projects of KA-DER Ankara

Projects completed between 2002- 2004
European Union and Women- training programs for women about EU accession
processes, sponsored by British Embassy with the partnership of ARI.
Empowerment of Women in Local Politics sponsored by Denmark Embassy.
Vote for Women Mayors!, Campaign for Local Election in 2004 sponsored by UNDP
Organization a Secretariat to Build a National Umbrella for representation in European
Womens Lobby sponsored by ABGS(General Directorate of EU)
Monitoring EU Accession Processes from Gender Equality Perspective - joint project with
Womens Studies and Policies Foundation of Bulgaria, sponsored by Open Society
Institute.
Projects completed between 2004- 2006
We are here! / Biz de Varz project sponsored by Women Fund.
Building network between local womens NGOs, local women and local administrations
sponsored by Olaf Palme Institute.
Learning Together Despite the Social Exclusion- Mentorship for Women Entrepreneurs
joint project with the partnership of Sofia Womens Studies Center and Bratislava
Womens Studies and Research Center acted between 2005-2006 and sponsored by
Socrates/Grundtvig 2 sub-program.
Ongoing Projects
From Today for Tomorrow Campaign for Womens Empowerment in Local Politics
Local politics study group is formed to empower woman in politics and to make the political
arena more female friendly. The group started a campaign called from today for tomorrow
in 2003 and this aims to empower women in local politics, to make connections between
groups, to design programs for consciousness-raising and lobbying to media at local level.
Study group is still working on the campaign with all aspects. Campaign recently sponsored
by United Nations Joint Program to Protect and Promote the Human Rights of Women and
Girls (UNDP) other donors are Women fund and UNDP. Starting date: 2003- ongoing
Empowerment of Women in Politics Project
Project aims to support womens equal political representation issues in national and local
level and especially women in political parties and running for the nomination as candidate
defined as the main target group of project. Donors: UNDP starting date: 2006, ongoing.
6.3.5. Flying Broom (Uan Sprge)
The International Womens Film Festival (Uluslararas Kadn Filmleri Festivali)
Flying Broom is annually International Womens Film Festival in Ankara. The Womens Film
Festival is the first of its kind in Turkey and aims to highlight women's issues and support

43

female directors. This year's festival theme is Love, and male directors are admitted in this
category as well.
Local Women Reporters Project (Yerel Kadn Muhabirler Projesi)
The aim of the project is to initiate a womens information and news network to carry the local
issues and grassroots womens testimonies, demands and priorities to the national agenda;
to break the dependency to the mainstream media as the source of local news about women;
to create a strong and solid ground for the alternative womens media; to provide local
womens NGOs and women the opportunity to take their place in the information society;
and to make use of the different information technologies for a more just, democratic and
egalitarian society. For the implementation of the project, we proposed the establishment of a
local women reporters network as the main methodological device. Eight cities have been
chosen for the first year's implementation of the project. These cities are: anakkale,
Samsun, Izmir, Eskisehir, Mersin, Gaziantep and Diyarbakir.
Young Women are Building Bridges for EU (AB iin Kadinlar Kprler Kuruyor)
The Young women are building bridges for EU project aims to inform and increase the
awareness of young women university students in terms of the EU. To share information
about the EU, its dynamics, enlargement process and one specific policy area: gender
equality. In addition to this, to learn their views and thoughts on the EU, and Turkeys,
Bulgarias and Frances accessions processes. Partners: CEDIFF from France and CWSP
from Bulgaria
From Paths to Roads Project (Patikalardan Yollara)
Aim of the project is promoting to build local networks between local womens NGOs, local
representatives of Flying Broom and local administrations with the purpose of supporting the
development of civic societys initiatives in Turkey. Starting date: 2004
Building Bridges (Kprler Kuruyoruz)
Project aimed to build bridges between women of different region and community with the
purpose of integrating them to design a common agenda for women affairs. Starting date:
2003-2005

6.3.6. AEV Anne ocuk Eitim Vakf (Foundation for Mother and Child Education)
Empowering Families: Reproductive Health and the Parent Education Model (Kaynaklar
Kstl Ailelerin Glendirilmesi: Cinsel Salk/ reme Sal ve Anne Baba Eitimi Modeli
Projesi)
The project will run for two years and through implementations of the Mother Support
Program and the Father Support Program, participants will receive training on both parenting
issues and issues pertaining specifically to reproductive and sexual health. 6,000 mothers
and fathers are being targeted as part of this project. The program also aims to inform men
and women about pre and post natal care services and increase access to them, enable both
the usage of family planning methods and increase the likelihood of their being discussed in

44

the family, raise awareness about how sexually transmitted diseases can be prevented and
encourage safe practices, raise awareness about breast and uterine cancer and finally,
increase mens awareness regarding their responsibilities on sexual health. Donors: EU,
Turkey-Ministry of Health
Literacy Project for Sexual and Reproductive Health and Our Rights Project
The Project began in the provinces of Adana, Erzurum and Van in 2005 and will run for two
years. The overall aim is to improve, through education, the status of illiterate women who
lack sufficient knowledge on sexual and reproductive health and thus cannot adequately
benefit from related services. The aim of this project is to enable illiterate women young and
old, living in regions of high population density and domestic migration, to acquire this basic
skill, as well as to raise their consciousness on issues pertaining to sexual
health/reproductive health, family health, gender inequalities, and womens rights. Starting
date: 2005
Project for Gender Equality in Education and Social Life (Eitimde ve Toplumsal Katlmda
Cinsiyet Eitliinin Salanmas Projesi)
The Project aims to reduce gender inequalities in education and to increase the participation
of women in activities outside of the domestic sphere. The project is being implemented in
Diyarbakr, Mardin and anlurfa which are all provinces with low literacy rates and in
Istanbul, Turkeys most highly populated metropolis which takes in the highest number of
migrants from the eastern provinces. Illiterate women, parents who have primary schoolaged daughters, community members, local authorities, journalists, non-governmental
organizations, national policy makers, and media organizations comprise the target group of
this three year project. During program implementation, AEV will run project coordination,
and ensure literacy training and parent education implementations are conducted. KA-DER
will provide civic education to women and support AEV on issues pertaining to gender
policies. The third partner ERG will conduct policy making, network formation, advocacy and
evaluation-monitoring activities. Donors: EU. Partners: KA-DER, ERG (Initiatives for Reforms
in Education). Starting date: 2005-2008. Budget: 1 million Euro
6.3.7. ada Yaam Destekleme Dernei (Association for Contemporary Living)
Functional Literacy Training Programme for Adults (levsel Yetikin Okuma Yazma
Program)
Project is organizing activities of voluntary trainers from YYD, through the literacy courses
at primary level. Partners: AEV, Ministry of National Education. Starting date: 1996
ongoing
6.3.8. Yerel Gndem 21- Kadn Meclisleri (Local Agenda 21- Womens Assembly)

45

This is both an international project sponsored by IULA- EMME and local womens
organizations running for activities of Womens empowerment especially at the local level.
http://www.la21turkey.net
6.3.9. BIANET Kadnn Penceresi (Womans Window)
News web page on womens issues: www.bianet.org
6.4. UN Turkey Country Projects
One of the UNs Millennium Development Goals is gender equality. In order to achieve the
goal of gender equality and empowerment of women in all fields, the UN has defined its
priorities in five different spheres:

Advocacy, coalition building and networking among national stakeholders,

Strengthening and sustaining national and local capacity to protect women and girls rights,
Womens participation in leadership and politics,
Women and girls health and education,
Womens economic advancement.
Women are equally represented through seats in national and local parliamentary
assemblies
Each political partys gender section has an active voice in party politics

6.4.1. Completed UN Projects

Promoting Women's Rights and Empowering Women. This project involves conducting
needs assessments and attitudinal surveys, fostering policy dialogues with municipal level
stakeholders, and developing service-packages to promote gender equality in 3-4 selected
towns and cities.
The IOM is conducting a counter-trafficking project aimed at fostering a cross-sectional
dialogue on the role of ministries, departments, NGOs in the fight against trafficking. As part
of this project, a national referral mechanism is being established to provide assistance to
victims of human trafficking.
The UNDP in partnership with Flying Broom Association conducted the CEDAW Advocacy
and Parliamentary Capacity Building Project. The project has supported activities to
establish a Gender Equality Commission in the TBMM.
UNFPA, in conjunction with KSGM and the Turkish Journalists Federation, was training
local media representatives in gender issues through local seminars. The project also
involved competitions for young journalists to award the best coverage of gender issues and
womens rights.

46

In partnership with DGSPW and the International Advertising Association, UNFPA organized
competitions for young advertisers in an effort to raise awareness about gender issues
through social marketing.
UNFPA and UNDP are partnering with TRT Regional Radios and Womens Rights New
Way to increase national and local awareness on womens rights. The campaign includes
radio program with 6 regional radio stations.
UNFPA, in partnership with DGSPW and the Turkish Football Federation to increase national
awareness about the link between violence against women and human rights. The Stop
Violence Against Women! national campaign involves multimedia events with national
celebrities and politicians joining forces to address violence.
UNFPAs Parliamentary Advocacy project aims to sensitize parliamentarians and their
advisors on the importance of gender issues. The project includes awareness raising
meetings for women MPs, their advisors and members of the Health Commission.
UNFPA and UNDP, in conjunction with the Population Association (Nfus Bilim Dernei)
conducted research on the Dynamics of Honor Killings in Turkey. The projects aimed to
understand the notion and dynamics of honor in Turkish society and to propose a
comprehensive action plan.
UNICEF is working with the Ministry of National Education on the Policy Partnership for
Girls Education project. The project involves study groups as well as qualitative and
quantitative assessments. The project is developing a Strategic Plan for gender parity in both
primary and secondary education and aims to increase the enrolment of school-age girls by
at least 300,000.
UNFPA, in conjunction with DGSPW and KA-DER, is conducting the Capacity Building for
Local Administrators on Gender Equality project. The projects aim is to transform the
existing gender blind local politics into gender sensitive politics.
UNHCR and UNFPA, in partnership with the Ministry of the Interior, the Social Services and
Child Protection Agency and national NGOs, to prevent sexual and gender based
violence against refugees and internally displaced people. Project activities are based on
findings from a situational analysis and a collaboratively developed action plan. The project
includes awareness rising about sexual and gender based violence, training for NGOs, the
Ministry of the Interior, Ministry of Justice and the Gendarmerie as well as updating of legal
manuals for refugee women and children.
UNHCRs Gender and Children Team is collaborating with the Social Services and Child
Protection Agency and national NGOs on the Asylum Institution Building project. As part
of the project relevant officials of the Ministry of the Interior and the Social Services and Child
Protection Agency are being trained on how to handle sensitive caseloads and in the
practical application of legal protection provisions.

47

UNDP is partnering with IULA EMME to pursue the Networking among Women in Local
Politics project. The project seeks to increase the active participation of women in municipal
decision making in over 10 cities and supports womens platforms in municipal/city councils.
UNFPA is working together with the Ministry of Health and GATA Military Medical Hospital to
promote reproductive health and reduce gender based violence through the training of
military conscripts. The project includes up-dating training materials for RH serviceproviders and military recruits to include anti- gender based violence and RH components
and training both trainers and military conscripts.
UNICEF and the Ministry of National Education have partnered to work on the Girls
Education Campaign. Campaign activities include training and development of relevant
personnel, social mobilization through NGOs, children, governors, deputies and parents. The
campaign is spearheaded by a multi-media campaign and backed by fundraising. Parents
awareness is being raised about the importance of girls education. 10.000 teachers, 200
social workers, 50.800 health workers and 150 school counselors are being equipped with
communications and outreach skills.
The WHO and Ministry of Health are working with other national partners to strengthen
primary health care with a particular focus on maternal and child health as part of the Making
Pregnancy Safer project. The project is working to prepare a national plan to make
pregnancy safer and the national plan on womens health is being updated. The family
medicine system will be revised to include reproductive health issues.
UNDP, in partnership with GIDEMs and the GAP Regional Development Administration, is
pursuing the Supporting Womens Entrepreneurship project. The project provides
business development services to women owned/operated enterprises in the Southeast
Anatolia region in order to promote womens economic empowerment.
UNDP, in partnership with the GAP Regional Development Administration, is working on the
Multi Purpose Community Centre (ATOM) project. The project aims to encourage
increased productivity among women owned/operated enterprises and NGOs through the
establishment of community centers. The centers provide experts and foster networking
among women operated enterprises.
Gender Thematic Trust Fund: Mainstreaming Gender in UNDP Deliverables & Services,
Budget: USD 90,000 Timeline: May 2005-March 2006 A review of UNDP Turkey's programs
and projects, reviewing needs and potentials in gender mainstreaming; the development and
delivery of replicable training programs to UNDP Turkey staff, project partners and
beneficiaries, and decision makers.

48

6.4.2. Ongoing and Coming Projects of UN

United Nations Joint Program to Protect and Promote the Human Rights of Women
and Girls (UNDP) www.protectingwomen.org The Joint program is aim to provide better
opportunities for women and girls in Turkey by building service capacity for local
governments and enhancing collaboration between NGOs and government authorities.
Working to Increase the Number of Women in Turkish Parliament, Project name:
Women in Politics Budget: USD 120,000 Timeline: February-December 2006, KA-DERANKARA.
6.4.3. Gender Integrated Projects of UNDP
Gender mainstreaming is the main principle in UNDP Turkey's ongoing programs, within and
across its three main focus areas of Democratic Governance, Poverty Reduction and Energy
and Environment: Local Agenda 21 (LA-21) [Democratic Governance] has special focus on
gender empowerment. The mechanisms and institutions of LA-21 have been advocating for
increased candidature among women in local elections, as well as for legislative reform to
increase women's participation and representation.
Small and Medium Scale Enterprise Development in Southeast Anatolia (GIDEM) [Poverty
Reduction] includes study on women's entrepreneurship opportunities in southeastern
Anatolia.
Reduction of Socio-Economic Disparities in the GAP region, phase II [Poverty Reduction]
aims to strengthen both the production capacities of women and the networks among women
NGOs across the region. This support will take the form of technical expertise in production,
design and marketing, and will result in an improved institutional capacity of the women's
organizations in the region.
Linking Eastern Anatolia to Progress (LEAP) [Poverty Reduction] aims to support the limited
number of women NGO's in this region, mainly in entrepreneurship support and incomegenerating activities. Currently, these activities are in Erzurum. Additional gender-related
support will be implemented in Erzincan and Bayburt where entrepreneurship centers are
being established.
Global Environment Fund Small Grants Project (GEF-SGP) [Energy and Environment]
endeavors to ensure the involvement of all stakeholders, particularly women, particularly in
its projects which have a community focus. This is felt to be particularly important in those
projects which involve an alternative income-generation component, in order to safeguard
against proposed alternatives creating burdensome responsibilities for women in the
communities concerned.

49

6.5. Projects of Private Sector

Hrriyet Newspaper, Aile ii iddete son! (Stop domestic violence) campaign in cooperation
with UNFPA and DGSPW.

50

7. MAIN DOCUMENTS

7.1. Bibliografy on Women Studies

7.1.1. General
Acar, Feride (2000), Turkey, The First CEDAW Impact Study, Centre for Feminist Research,
York University and the International Womens Rights Project, Toronto.
Arat, Yeim (2000) From Emancipation to Liberation: The Changing Role of Women in
Turkeys Public Realm, Journal Of International Affairs, Fall, 54, No: 1.
Arat, Yesim, (2001) Womens Rights as Human Rights: The Turkish Case, Human Rights
Review, October-December.
Berktay, F. (et.all), (2004) The Position of Women in Turkey and in the European Union:
Achievements, Problems, Prospects, KA-DER Publication, stanbul.
Bken, Erhan, Serap Sahinolu and Nket rnek Bken (2006) Statutory Disclosure in
Article 280 of The Turkish Penal Code, Nursing Ethics 13 (6.)
rakolu, Okan Cem (2006), Perception of Homosexuality among Turkish University
Students: The Roles of Labels, Gender, and Prior Contact, The Journal of Social
Psychology, 146(3), 293305.
Eraydn, Ayda and Asuman Erendil-Trkn, (2002), Konfeksiyon Sanayiinde Yeniden
Yaplanma Sreci, Deien Koullar ve Kadn Emei: Ne kazandlar, Ne Kaybettiler?,
ktisat Dergisi, no. 430, October 2002.
Ertrk, Y. and Dayolu, M., (2004), Gender, Education and Child Labour in Turkey,
Geneva: ILO/IPEC.
Ertrk, Y. (2004) Considering the Role of Men in Gender Agenda Setting: Conceptual and
Policy Issues, Feminist Review, 78: 3-21.
Eryilmaz, Gulsen (2006), The Evaluation Of Family Planning Services Given in Erzurum
motherChild Health And Family Planning Center in Eastern Turkey, The European
Journal Of Contraception And Reproductive Health Care June;11(2):146150.
Eybolu, Aye, (et.all), (2000), Kentlerde Kadnlarn Yaamna Katlm Sorunlarnn
Sosyo-ekonomik ve Kltrel Boyutlar, KSSGM (DGSPW Publications), Ankara.

51

Ilkkaracan, P. (2002), Women, Sexuality, and Social Change in the Middle East and
Maghreb, Social Research, 69(3): 754-779.
Kadn almalarnda Disiplinleraras Buluma, vol. 1, 2, 3, Symposium Papers, Yeditepe
University, 2004, Istanbul.
Kardam, Nuket and Acuner Selma, (2003) National Womens Machineries: Structures and
Spaces in Shirin Rai, ed. Mainstreaming Gender, Democratizing the State? Manchester
University Press, Manchester.
Kardam, Nuket, (2005) Turkeys Engagement with Global Womens Human Rights,
Ashgate Publishers, London.
Ongen, Demet (2006) Attitudes Towards Women: A Study Of Gender And Academc
Domain Differences In A Sample Of Turkish University Students, Social Behavior And
Personality, 34(5), 467-486
Oktik, N., (2002) Feminizmden Kadn almalarna Devletin Fonksiyonu, Dou Bat, no. 21,
pp.213-33.
Parla, Aye (2001) The Honor Of The State: Virginity Examinations in Turkey, Feminist
Studies 27, No: 1 (Spring)
Senol, Fatma, (2006) Mobilizing Women for Participating in Local Governance A Case
Study From Eskisehir, Turkey, Women & Environments, Spring/Summer
Toksz, G., (2002), We are the few: Women in Labor Unions in Turkey, The Revenges of
Neoliberalism: Economy, Society and Gender in Turkey, Nova Publishers, New York.
Toksz, G. and F. Kardam, (2004), Gender Based Discrimination at Work in Turkey: A
Cross-Sectoral Overview, Siyasal Bilgiler Fakltesi Dergisi, no. Nov.-Dec. 2004.
Yeen, Mesut, (2000), Sendikalar ve Kadn Sorunu: Kurumsal Gelenekler ve Cari Zihniyetler,
Sosyoloji Aratrmalar Dergisi, Fall, 2000, no.:1-2.
Yldrak N., Glubuk B., (et.all), (2003), Trkiyede Gezici ve Geici Kadn Tarm
ilerinin alma ve Yaam Koullar ve Sorunlar, Tarm- Publication, Ankara.
7.1.2. Engendering the Turkish History
Berktay, F. (2002) Dou ile Batnn Birletii Yer: Kadn mgesinin Kurgulan, Modern
Trkiyede Siyasi Dnce: Modernleme ve Batclk cilt 3, letiim Publications.
Durakbaa A. (2000), Halide Edib: Trk Modernlemesi ve Feminizm, letiim Publications.

52

Saktanber, A., (2001), Kemalist Kadn Haklar Sylemi, Modern Trkiyede Siyasi
Dnce: Kemalizm, cilt 2, letiim Publications.
Sancar, Serpil (2004) Otoriter Trk Modernlemesinin Cinsiyet Rejimi, Dou Bat, zel
Say: deolojiler II, no.29.
erifsoy,Selda (2000), Aile ve Kemalist Modernizasyon Projesi, 1928-1950, in Vatan,
Millet, Kadnlar, (ed.) A. G. Altnay, letiim Publications, stanbul, ss.155-88.
Sirman, Nkhet (2002) Kadnlarn Milliyeti, Milliyetilik: Modern Trkiyede Siyasi
Dnce, cilt 4, letiim Publications.
Zihniolu, Yaprak (2003) Kadnsz nkilap, Nezihe Muhittin, Kadnlar Halk Frkas, Kadn
Birlii, Metis Publications.
7.1.3. Womens Health in Turkey
Akn, A. and N. Ozaydin, (2005) The Relationship Between Males Attitudes To Partner
Violence And Use Of Contraceptive Methods in Turkey, The European Journal of
Contraception And Reproductive Health Care September; 10(3):199206.
Akin, A. and S. Bahar-Ozvaris (2002) Utilization of Natal and Postnatal Services in Turkey,
A. Akin (ed.), Contraception, Abortion and Maternal Health Services in Turkey: Results
of Further Analysis of the 1998 Turkish Demographic and Health Survey, Ankara.
Hacettepe University, TFHP Foundation and UNFPA, 239-289.
Akin, A. and S. Bahar-Ozvaris (2004), Study on the Influential Factors of Sexual and
Reproductive Health of Adolescents/Young People in Turkey (Executive Summary).
Ankara, Hacettepe University, WHO, UNFPA.
Aslan, Dilek, (et.all), (2006), What Are The Predictors Of Health Services Utilization by
Women in A City Center Located in The Eastern Part Of Turkey ?:A Cross Sectional Study
Turkish Journal of Medical Science, 36 37-43.
Akn, A, (2003), Ed., Trkiyede Toplumsal Cinsiyet ve Salk DGSPW, HUKSAM and
UNFPA Publication, Ankara.
Akn A., (ed.), (2006), Trkiyede Toplumsal Cinsiyet Perspektifinin Salk Politikasna
Entegre Edilmesi: Bir Vaka almas HUKSAM Publication, Ankara.

7.1.4. Womens Movements in Turkey

53

Amargi, (eds.) 2005, zgrl Ararken, Kadn Hareketinde Mcadele Deneyimleri,

Amargi Kadn Akademisi.
Bora, Aksu ve Asena Gnal, (eds), (2002), 90larda Trkiyede Feminizm, letiim
Publications.
lyasolu,A. and Necla Akgke,(eds.) (2001), Yerli Bir Feminizme Doru, Sel Publications
Kardam, N. and Ertrk, Y. (1999), Expanding Gender Accountability? Womens
Organizations and
the State in Turkey, The International Journal of Organization,
Theory and Behaviour, 2(1&2): 167-197.
Sancar, Serpil (2001), Trkler/Krtler, Anneler ve Siyaset: Savata ocuklarn Kaybetmi
Trk ve Krt Anneler zerine Bir Yorum, Toplum ve Bilim, Gz, s.90; ss.22-41.
7.1.5. Religion and Women in Turkey
Arat, Yeim, (2001), Group-Differentiated Rights and Liberal Democratic State: Rethinking
Headscarf Contraversy in Turkey, New Perspectives on Turkey.
Akta, Cihan, (2004) Cemaatten Kamusal Alana slamc Kadnlar, slamclk: Modern
Trkiyede Siyasi Dnce, cilt 6, letiim Publications, ss.826-36.
Bulut, Nigar (2001), slamc Kadnlarn Feminist Deneyimleri, Tezkire, s.19.
akr, Ruen, (2000), Direni ve taat: ki ktidar Arasnda slamc Kadn, Siyahbeyaz
Dizisi, Metis Publications.
Erarslan, Sibel (2004), slamc Kadnn Siyasette Zaman Algs zerine, slamclk: Modern
Trkiyede Siyasi Dnce, cilt 6, letiim Publications, ss.818-25.
Gle, Nilfer (der.), (2000) slamn Kamusal Yzleri, Metis Publications.
Keskin, B. (2002) Confronting Double Patriarchy: Islamist Women in Turkey. Bachetta and
Power (Eds.). Rght-Wing Women: from Conservative to Extremist around the World.
New York: Routledge: 245-257.
Ramazanolu, Yldz (2004) Cumhuriyetin Dindar Kadnlar, slamclk: Modern Trkiyede
Siyasi Dnce, cilt 6, letiim Publications, ss.804-12.
Saktanber, A., (2002) Whose Virtue Is This? The Virtue Party and Women in Islamist
Politics in Turkey. in Bachetta and Power (Eds.), Right-Wing Women: From Conservative
to Extremist around the World. New York: Routledge: 71-83.

54

Saktanber, Aye (2004) Gndelik Yaamda Dinin Yeniden Kefinin Bir Arac Olarak
Kadnlar, slamclk: Modern Trkiyede Siyasi Dnce, cilt 6, letiim Publications,
ss.813-7.
Tuksal, Hidayet efkatli (2000) Snni-Muhafazakar evrelerde Kadn Politikas retmenin
Glkleri, in Trkiyede Sivil Toplum ve Milliyetcilik, letiim Publications.
Tuksal, Hidayet efkatli (2001) Kadn Kart Sylemin slam Geleneindeki zdmleri,
Kitabiyat Publications, Ankara.
iman, Nazife (2003), Emanetten Mlke Kadn Bedeninin Yeniden nas, z Publications.
7.1.6. Publications of Womens Organizations
Bora, Aksu and Ceren at, (2006) Dm Bilgisi: Kadnlar iin Yerel Siyaset Eitim El
Kitab, Yarn in Bugnden Kampanyas, KA-DER Ankara Local Politics Study Group,
Ankara.
Alkan, Ayten, (2006) Belediye Kadnlara da Hizmet Eder: Kadn Dostu Belediye
Hizmetleri, Yarn in Bugnden Kampanyas, KA-DER Ankara Local Politics Study Group
Ankara.
KA-DER, (2002) Kadn Siyasetinin El Kitab, KA-DER Head Office Publication.
KA-DER, (2005) Eit Temsil iin Cinsiyet Kotas: Erkek Demokrasiden Gerek
Demokrasiye, KA-DER Head Office Publication.
WWHR (Women for Womens Human Rights- New Ways),(2002), The New Legal Status of
Women in Turkey, Istanbul.
WWHR (Women for Womens Human Rights- New Ways), (2000), Women and Sexuality in
Muslim Societies, Istanbul.
KA-DER Ankara Local Politics Study Group, (2004), Kadn Bamza:Yerel Ynetimlerde
Kadn Katlm ve Temsili Kampanyas, 2003-2004, KA-DER-Ankara and KASAUM
Publications,.
Local Politics Study Group, (2006), Cinsiyet Eitlii Yolunda Yerel Siyaset Raporu, Yarn
in Bugnden Kampanyas, KA-DER Ankara, Ankara.
L.Yldz Tokman, Sema Kendirci, (2006), Yerel Ynetimlere likin Yasal Dzenlemeler
erevesinde Kadnlara Yer Amak, Yarn in Bugnden Kampanyas, KA-DER Ankara
Local Politics Study Group , Ankara.

55

7.1.7. Periodicals
Amargi, no. 1, 2, 2006. (Amargi Kadn Akademisi yayn)
Kadn almalar Dergisi, no.1, 2, 2006 (stanbul Bykehir Belediyesi yayn)
Uan Haber, zel say, no.23., 2006. (Uan Sprge yayn)
Pazartesi, www.pazartesi.org

7.2. Other Documents and Reports

7.2.1. International Reports on Womens Rights in Turkey
European Union
European Union, 2004, European Parliament Resolution on the Role of Women in
Turkey in Social, Economic and Political Life, (2004/2215(INI)) Committee on
Womens Rights and Gender Equality, by Emine Bozkurt, 10.6.2005, final A6-0175/2005.
(doc.no. 1)
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/omk/sipade3?PUBREF=-//EP//NONSGML+REPORT+A62005-0175+0+DOC+PDF+V0//EN&L=EN&LEVEL=1&NAV=S&LSTDOC=Y

European Union, 2006, European Parliament Resolution on the role of Women in

Turkey in Social, Economic and Political Life, Committee on Womens Rights and
Gender Equality, by Emine Bozkurt, (second draft report ) (doc.no. 2)

World Bank
Feride Acar, et.all, (eds.) 2003, Bridging Gender Gap in Turkey: A Milestone Towards
Faster Development and Poverty Reduction, Poverty Reduction and Economic
Management Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region.World Bank, Country Gender
Assessment Report of Turkey (doc.no. 4)
http://siteresources.worldbank.org/INTECAREGTOPGENDER/Resources/TurkeyCGA.pdf
UNICEF
Study group (dr. Nur Otaran, et.all.), 2003, Gender Review in Education, Turkey 2003,
UNICEF Publication, (in English) www.unicef.org/turkey,
http://www.unicef.org/turkey/pdf/ge21.pdf

World Economic Forum

Womens Empowerment: Measuring the Global Gender Gap, 2005, www.weforum.org
(doc.no. 40)
Some Other International Organizations
International Office of Migration, 2005, Turkey, Trafficking& Trends, IOM Report on
Women trafficking in Turkey. (doc.no. 5)
http://www.countertrafficking.org/pdf/2005_turkey_trafficking_and_trends.pdf

56

Amnesty International Report on Domestic Violence, Aile i iddete Kar Mcadelede

Kadnlar, AI Index: EUR 44/013/200 (doc.no. 6)
http://web.amnesty.org/library/pdf/EUR440132004ENGLISH/$File/EUR4401304.pdf

7.2.2. National Reports on Womens Human Right in Turkey

TBMM (Grand Turkish National Assembly), 2006, Tre ve Namus Cinayetleri ile
Kadnlara ve ocuklara Ynelik iddetin Aratrlarak Alnmas Gereken nlemlerin
Belirlenmesi Amacyla Kurulan (10/148, 182, 187, 284, 285) Esas Numaral Meclis
Aratrma Komisyonu Raporu (Special Investigation Commission Report/ Research for
Specific Measures Against Honor Killings and Violence Against Women and Children )
(Special Report of Turkish National Assembly on honor killings and domestic violence).
(doc.no. 7)
http://www.tbmm.gov.tr/sirasayi/donem22/yil01/ss1140_BOLUM%20I%20(0001-0153).pdf
(report part 1-In Turkish)
http://www.tbmm.gov.tr/sirasayi/donem22/yil01/ss1140_BOLUM%20II%20(01540288).pdf (report part 2-In Turkish)

T.B.M.M (Grand National Assembly of Turkey), 2003, Kadnn Stats Aratrma

Komisyonu Raporu (Special Investigation Commission Report/ Reviewing the Status of
Women in Turkey) DGSPW Publication, Ankara.
www.kssgm.gov.tr, www.tbmm.gov.tr

IHD, 2005, nsan Haklar hlalleri Raporu,(Annual Report on Violation of Human Rights),
including the number of womens rights violation, (doc.no.38)
http://www.ihd.org.tr

DGSPW, 2004, Response of Republic of Turkey to the Questionnaire on

Implementation of Beijing Platform for Action, ( in English) (doc.no. 24)
www.kssgm.gov.tr

IPC (Istanbul Policy Center), 2005, Avrupa Birliine Giri Srecini zleme Program /
Kadnlar ve Erkekler iin Eit Frsatlar: Trkiye (Program for Monitoring the Turkeys
Accession Process to European Union / Equal Opportunities for Women and Men
Monitoring law and practice in Turkey), (by Nevin enol, Ceren at, Aysun Sayn),
Sabanc University and Open Society Institution. www.osiaf.org (doc.no.3)

Nfusbilim Dernei, 2005, Toplumsal Cinsiyet Gstergeleri Oluturma Eylem Plan,

KSSGM iin hazrlanm rapor.( Population Studies Association, 2005, Action Plan for
designing National Gender Equality Indicators special report prepared by National
Machinery-DGSPW), (in Turkish) (doc.no. 22)

57

www.kssgm.gov.tr
CEDAW, 2005, Concluding Comment: Turkey, CEDAW/C/TUR/CC/4-5, 15 February
2005 (Turkish State Report on CEDAW monitoring process) (doc.no. 8)
www.kssgm.gov.tr , www.ucansupurge.org
CEDAW, 2003, The Fourth and Fifth Combined Periodic Report of TURKEY June,
(doc.no. 9)
www.kssgm.gov.tr , www.ucansupurge.org

CEDAW, 2004, Shadow NGO Report on Turkeys Fourth and Fifth combined
Periodic Report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against
Women for submission to the CEDAW, by Womens Human Rights Foundation- New
Ways, (doc.no. 10a in Turkish) (doc.no. 10b in English)
www.wwhr.org/images/shadowreport.pdf

CEDAW, 2004, Shadow NGO Report on Turkeys Fourth and Fifth combined
Periodic Report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against
Women for submission to the CEDAW , by CEDAW Steering Comittee (doc.no. 11) (in
Turkish)
www.ucansupurge.org

DGSPW, 2000, Avrupa Birlii Srecinde Trkiye Cumhuriyeti Anayasas ve KadnErkek Eitlii Politikalar, DGSPW Publication, Ankara.
www.kssgm.gov.tr

TUSIAD (Turkish Industrial Businessmen Association), 2000, Kadn-Erkek Eitliine

Doru Yry: Eitim, alma Yaam ve Siyaset, (by Mine Tan, Yldz Ecevit,
Serpil Sancar) (Pub. no.; TSAD-T/2000-12/290) (Towards Gender Equality: Education,
Employment, Political Participation), Istanbul. (in Turkish, executive summary in English)
www.tusaid.org.tr

KAGDER, 2005, Social and Economic Status of Women in Turkey. (doc.no. 37)

7.2.3. Special Reports on Gender Equality in Turkey

Nkhet Kardam, 2004, The role of national mechanisms in promoting gender equality
and the empowerment of women: Turkey experience, UN/ DAW, EGM/National
Machinery/ 2004/EP 2. (doc.no. 12)
http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/egm/nationalm2004/docs/EP.%202-Kardam.pdf

7.2.4. NGO Reports and Documentation on Womens Rights in Turkey

Uan Sprge, 2003, CEDAW Sivil Toplum Forumu-Atlye almas (CEDAW-NGO
Forum- Workshop), published by British Council, Ankara. (in Turkish)

58

On Political Participation
KA-DER, Local Politics Task Force, 2006, Local Policies Towards Gender Equality
Report by KA-DER - May 30, 2006 Ankara. (doc.no. 13)

KA-DER-Women for Local Politics Study Group, 2006, Bir de Buradan Bak: Cinsiyet
Eitsizlii bir Kadn sorunu Deil Toplumun Sorunudur, (Manual for Engendering
Social Projects) by Serpil Sancar, Selma Acuner, lknur stn, Aksu Bora, Lara Romaniuc,
Kader- Ankara and UNDP Publication, Ankara. (doc.no.14)
http://www.marjinal.com.tr/download/kader_kitaplar/birdeburadanbak.pdf (In Turkish)

KA-DER, 2004, Kadnlarn Yerel Seimler Bildirgesi (Decleration of Women for Local
Election-2004), KA-DER-Ankara. (doc.no. 15)
http://www.ka-der.org.tr/Kitaplar.html (in Turkish),

KA-DER, 2004, Kadn Sorunlarna zm Aray Kurultay, (Looking for the Strategies
for Womens Affairs - Future Search) 2003 stanbul. (doc.no. 16)
http://www.ka-der.org.tr/index.html (In Turkish)

KA-DER, Positive Discrimination for Womens Political Representation, Draft Proposals

for Gender Equality Legislation (Amendments to Political Parties Law and Election Law ),
2004, (doc.no. 17)
http://www.ka-der.org.tr/index.html (In Turkish)

Voice of Women from Trade Unions

Eitim-Sen (Teachers Union), 2004, Sorgulamak ve Deitirmek in, I. Kadn Kurultay
Sonu Raporu, (For Asking and Changing, I. Womens Congress of Eitim- Sen- Final
Resolution) , Ankara. (in Turkish) (doc.no. 18)
KESK(Confederation of Public Servants), 2004, "Szmz rgtlyoruz, Hayat
Deitiriyoruz", II. Kadn Kurultay Sonu Bildirgesi, (Raising our voice, changing our
life, II. Womens Congress of KESK-Final resolution), Ankara. (in Turkish) (doc.no. 19)
On Womens Work and Labor Issues
ILO, TRK_, UNFPA, 2005, Kadn Emei Platformu Komisyon Raporlar
(Womens Labor Platform, Commission Reports), Ankara.

Ev-Eksenli alan Kadnlar alma Grubu, 2005, Ev Eksenli alan Kadnlar I. lke
Konferans Sonularna Dayanan Eylem Plan ncelikleri, (Home-Centered Women
Workers Group, Priorities for Action Plan Based on Final Resolutions of 1st National
Congress), Ankara. (in Turkish) (doc.no. 20)

Ev-Eksenli alan Kadnlar alma Grubu, 2004, Trkiye HOMENETe Doru: Ev

Eksenli alan Kadnlar I. lke Konferans Sonu Bildirgesi, (Towards HOMENET:

59

Home-Centered Women Workers, I. National Congress-Final Resolution) Ankara.(in

Turkish).(doc.no.21)
On Domestic and Sexual Violence
KAMER, 2005, Whos to Blame, Project Report of KAMER /The Development of
Permanent Methods in the Struggle Against Killings Committed under the Guise of
Honor in the Southeast and East Anatolia Region, Publication of KAMER Foundation,
Diyarbakr.
www.kamer.org.tr/KA-MER-english/reports/2005ncreport.doc

KAMER, 2004, No More if onlys, Killings in the Name of Honor, Annual Report 2004,
Publication of KAMER, Diyarbakr. ( bu u raporun 6. blm: Project for the development
of permanent methods In the struggle aginst killings committed under the guise of
honor in the southeast and east anatolia regions 2005 report )
http://www.kamer.org.tr/KA-MER-english/main/main.htm

KAMER, 2003, We Will Not Get Used To, Killings in the Name of Honor, Annual
Report 2003, Publication of KAMER, Diyarbakr.

Kadn Dayanma Vakf, 2003, Kadna Ynelik iddetle Mcadele Alannda BelediyeKadn Kurulular birlii: Deneyimler, Sorunlar, zmler Atlyesi, (Foundation
for Womens Solidarity, 2003, Cooperation Between Local Governments and Womens
NGOs on Violence Against Women: Experiences, Problems, Solutions) (eds.) N. Ik, N.
Kara, Publication of Foundation for Womens Solidarity, Ankara. (in turkish9)

Kadn Snaklar Kurultay, 2002, Kadn Snaklar ve Danma Merkezleri Kurultay

Sonu Bildirgesi,(Council of Womens Shelter, 2002, Final Decleration of Womens
Shelter Congree), zmit. (in Turkish) (doc.no. 26)

On Womens Human Rights

Kadnn nsan Haklar Vakf-Yeni zmler, 2003, Kadnn nsan Haklar Eitimi
Program 1995-2001- Deerlendirme Raporu, by Nkhet Kardam (Women for Womens
Human Rights-New Ways, 2003, Training Program for Womens Human Rights. follow up
report by Nkhet Kardam. (in Turkish) (doc.no. 23)
On Disabled Women

Engelli Kadnlarn Sorunlar ve zmleri Sempozyumu, (Solutions for the Problems

of Disabled Women- Sympozium), University of KOCAEL, 2005.

7.3. List of Individuals Interviewed

DGSP, Esengl Civelek, General director

60

CEDAW Follow Up Committee, Yldz Tokman

European Womens Lobby, Selma Acuner
Womens Humans Rights, pek lkkaracan
KADER- Headquarter Istanbul, Seyhan Ekigil w
KADER-Ankara lknur stn
Womens Fund, Aysun Sayn
KAMER, Nebahat Akko
Purple Roof Womens Shelter, Hlya Glbahar
Womens Solidarity Fund Ankara Glsen lker Al
Home- Based Working Women Study Group, Nazik Ik
Human Rights Platform (HOP), Feray Salman
Ankara University Womens Studies Centre (KASAUM)
Hacettepe University Research and Implementation Centre on Womens Issues
(HUKSAM), Prof. Dr. Aye Akn
UNDP, Yeim Oru
UNFPA, Meltem Aduk
UNFPA-Gender Project, Nevin enol
EU-EC, Nalan zdemir

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8. MAIN RESEARCHS ON WOMEN

8.1. Research on Female Population

UNFPA Gender Study Group, 2006, Alt lde Yaplan Kamuoyu Aratrmas Sonular,
Kadn ve Kz ocuklarnn nsan Haklarnn Korunmas ve Gelitirilmesi Birlemi
Milletler Ortak Program(Public Opinion Research in Six Provinces on Womens Human
Rights), United Nations Joint Programme to Protect and Promote the Human Rights of
Women and Girls (UNJP)
Related website: www.protectingwomen.org
Summary of the report: www.kssgm.gov.tr/Raporozetson.doc
Do.Dr. Attila Hancolu, Banu Akadl zgmen, 2003, Kadnlarn Temel zellikleri ve
Statleri, HUNEE, TNSA.
Summary: Basic statistical figures related with women in education, residence, marriage,
employment, domestic violence, having children, etc.
Related website: http://www.hips.hacettepe.edu.tr/
Report: Not published online (doc.no. 34)
8.2. Women Trafficking and Sexual Slavery
IMO (International Migration Office), 2005, Turkey, Trafficking &Trends, IOM Publication,
Summary: Turkey is the largest markets in the trafficking of women from nearby former
Soviet states who have been forced into prostitution, with profits from the illicit sex trade in
Turkey an estimated $3.6 billion last year. About 5,000 women, more than half from Moldova
and Ukraine, are believed to be working as sex slaves in Turkey, an agency official said. The
prostitution networks make about $150 per customer, with each woman serving up to 15
clients a day.
Related Website: www.iom.int, www.countertrafficing.org
Report: http://www.countertrafficking.org/pdf/2005_turkey_trafficking_and_trends.pdf
8.3. Womens Citizenship Rights in Local Politics
Dr. Ayten Alkan, 2005, Yerel Ynetimler ve Cinsiyet: Kadnlarn Kentte Grnmez Varl,
(Local Governments and Gender: Invisible Presence of Women in the City) mge
Publications, Ankara.
Summary: The research reveals us the gender asymmetry, in terms of recognized needs
and participatory citizenship rights between women and men, which is implemented through
the policies and programs by local governments and public service providers in Ankara.

62

Related Website:
http://www.imge.com.tr/product_info.php?products_id=46211
http://www.ka-der.org.tr/index.html
8.4. Sexual and Domestic Violence Against Women
F. Kardam, et.all, 2006, The Dynamics of Honor Killing in Turkey: Prospects for Action,
UNDP, UNFPA, HUNEE, Ankara.
Summary: Qualitative research results on 195 cases of honor killings in South East Anatolia.
Related Website:
http://europeandcis.undp.org/?menu=p_cms/show&content_id=3E9AC2FE-F203-1EE9BF415971B62D7FE0
Related Document:
http://europeandcis.undp.org/?menu=p_cms/show&content_id=3E9DF3A2-F203-1EE9B57B90A9C97A1717
KAMER, 2006, S.O.S. Hotline Statistics, August 1997-july 2006, KAMER Foundation
Publication, www.kamer.org.tr
Summary: 2368 applicants data related with the type of violence, age, marital status,
education, etc
Related Website: www.kamer.org.tr
Related Document: http://www.kamer.org.tr/projects/istatistikler.pdf (In Turkish)
Sosyal ve Kriminolojik Aratrmalar alma Grubu, 2003, Kadna Ynelik iddet, stanbul
Bilgi niversitesi nsan Haklar Merkezi, stanbul. (Social and Criminological Studies Group,
2003, Violence Against Women, Istanbul Bilgi University, Human Rights Center) (doc.no.30)
Summary: According to comparative research results to the first step done in 1997,
womens awareness against and resistance to violence are increased.
Related Website:
http://insanhaklarimerkezi.bilgi.edu.tr/source/321.asp?r=10%2F25%2F2006+3%3A45%3A32
+AM&oid=sub3-1&selid=15
Related Document:
http://insanhaklarimerkezi.bilgi.edu.tr/source/323.asp?r=10%2F25%2F2006+3%3A42%3A51
+AM&oid=sub3-1&selid=17
8.5. Women and Family
Do. Dr. Hakan Ylmaz, et.all, 2006, Trkiyede Muhafazakarlk: Aile, Ekonomi, Din, Bat.
(Turkish Conservatism: Family, Economy, Religion, West), TESEV. (unpublished) (doc. no.
31) (doc. no. 35)

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Summary:A research done by a group of researcher from Bosphorus University reached the
result that the family values have more importance and central than to respecting the state
authority for Turkish conservatism which is based on womens honor and capability in
managing family affairs.
Related Website: www.tesev.org.tr
Related Document: Not published online
Aksu Bora, lknur stn, 2005, Scak Aile Ortam: Demokratikleme Srecinde Kadn
ve Erkekler, Alglar ve Zihniyet Yaplar, (Warm Hands of Family: Women and Men,
Perceptions and structures of Mentality in the Process of democratization) TESEV
Publications, stanbul. www.tesev.org.tr (doc.no.36)
8.6. Reproductive Health of Women
HUNEE (The Hacettepe Institute of Population Studies), 2002, Niteliksel Aratrma:
Gebelii nleyici Yntemler ve stemli Dkler (Qualitative Research: Contraceptives
and Abortions)
Summary: Results of periodical data collecting on family planning and serial data on related
issues.
Related Website: http://www.hips.hacettepe.edu.tr/
8.7. Women in Decision Making
UNDP, 2006, Trkiyede Siyaset ve Kadn Kamuoyu Aratrmas, stanbul (Politics and
Women in Turkey: Public Opinion Research), (doc.no.32)
Related Website: www.undp.org
Related Project: Empowering women in politics project (Siyasette kadn glendirme
projesi) - Related Website: http://www.undp.org.tr/Gozlem2.aspx?WebSayfaNo=90
Prof. Dr. Ersin Kalaycolu, Prof. Dr. Binnaz Toprak, 2004, Yaam, st Ynetim ve
Siyasette Kadn TESEV. (Women in business, Management and politics) , (doc.no. 33)
Related Website: www.tesev.org
http://www.tesev.org.tr/projeler/yayinlar_demokratiklesme.php
8. 8. Women in Universities
Eitim-Sen, niversite Ynetimlerinde kadnlara Yer yok! (There is no place for women in
Universitiess Head Officies), (doc.no.29)

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REFERENCE DOCUMENTS

55

Doc. No 1: European Union, 2004, European Parliament Resolution on the Role of

Women in Turkey in Social, Economic and Political Life, (2004/2215(INI)) Committee on
Womens Rights and Gender Equality, by Emine Bozkurt 10.6.2005, Final A6-0175/2005.
Doc. No 2: European Union, 2006, European Parliament Resolution on the Role of Women
in Turkey in Social, Economic and Political Life, Committee on Womens Rights and
Gender Equality, by Emine Bozkurt (second draft report).
Doc. No 3: European Union, 2004, EU Gender Equality Monitoring Report.
Doc. No 4: World Bank, 2003, Feride Acar, et.all, (eds.), Bridging Gender Gap in Turkey:
A Milestone Towards Faster Development and Poverty Reduction, Poverty Reduction
Economic Management Unit, Europe and Central Asia Region, Country Gender Assessment
Report of Turkey.
Doc. No 5: International Office of Migration (IOM), 2005, Turkey, Trafficking& Trends,
Report on Women Trafficking in Turkey.
Doc. No 6: Amnesty International Report on Domestic Violence, 2004, Aile i iddete Kar
Mcadelede Kadnlar, AI Index: EUR 44/013/2004.
Doc. No. 7: TBMM (Grand Turkish National Assembly), 2006, Tre ve Namus Cinayetleri
ile Kadnlara ve ocuklara Ynelik iddetin Aratrlarak Alnmas Gereken nlemlerin
Belirlenmesi Amacyla Kurulan (10/148, 182, 187, 284, 285) Esas Numaral Meclis
Aratrma Komisyonu Raporu.
Doc. No 8: CEDAW, 2005, Concluding Comment: Turkey, CEDAW/C/TUR/CC/4-5, 15
February 2005 (Turkish State Report on CEDAW monitoring process).
Doc. No 9: CEDAW, 2003, The Fourth and Fifth Combined Periodic Report of TURKEY.
Doc. No 10: CEDAW, 2004, Shadow NGO Report on Turkeys Fourth and Fifth
combined Periodic Report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women for submission to the CEDAW, by Womens Human Rights FoundationNew Ways.
Doc. No 11: CEDAW, 2004, Shadow NGO Report on Turkeys Fourth and Fifth
combined Periodic Report to the Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination
against Women for submission to the CEDAW, by CEDAW Steering Committee.

55

all these documents are available in apendix document atached to the project file.

65

Doc. No 12: United Nations, 2004, Nkhet Kardam, The Role of National Mechanisms in
Promoting Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women: Turkey Experience, UN/
DAW, EGM/National Machinery/ 2004/EP 2.
Doc. No 13: KA-DER, Local Politics Task Force, 2006, Local Policies Towards Gender
Equality Report by KA-DER - May 30, 2006 Ankara.
Doc. No 14: KA-DER-Women for Local Politics Study Group, 2006, Bir de Buradan Bak:
Cinsiyet Eitsizlii bir Kadn Sorunu Deil Toplumun Sorunudur, (Manual for
Engendering Social Projects) by Serpil Sancar, Selma Acuner, lknur stn, Aksu Bora,
Lara Romaniuc, Kader- Ankara and UNDP Publication, Ankara.
Doc. No 15: KA-DER, 2004, Kadnlarn Yerel Seimler Bildirgesi (Decleration of Women
for Local Election-2004), KA-DER-Ankara.
Doc. No 16: KA-DER, 2004, Kadn Sorunlarna zm Aray Kurultay, (Looking for
the Strategies for Womens Affairs - Future Search) 2003 stanbul.
Doc. No 17: KA-DER, Positive Discrimination for Womens Political Representation,
Draft Proposals for Gender Equality Legislation (Amendments to Political Parties Law and
Election Law), 2004.
Doc. No 18: Eitim-Sen (Teachers Union), 2004, Sorgulamak ve Deitirmek in, I. Kadn
Kurultay Sonu Raporu, (For Asking and Changing, I. Womens Congress of Eitim- SenFinal Resolution) , Ankara.
Doc. No. 19: KESK (Confederation of Public Servants), 2004, "Szmz rgtlyoruz,
Hayat Deitiriyoruz", II. Kadn Kurultay Sonu Bildirgesi, (Raising our voice, changing
our life, II. Womens Congress of KESK-Final resolution), Ankara. (in Turkish)
Doc. No. 20: Ev-Eksenli alan Kadnlar alma Grubu, 2005, Ev Eksenli alan
Kadnlar I. lke Konferans Sonularna Dayanan Eylem Plan ncelikleri (HomeCentered Women Workers Group, Priorities for Action Plan Based on Final Resolutions of
1st National Congress), Ankara. (in Turkish)
Doc. No. 21: Ev-Eksenli alan Kadnlar alma Grubu, 2004, Trkiye HOMENETe
Doru: Ev Eksenli alan Kadnlar I. lke Konferans Sonu Bildirgesi, (Towards
HOMENET: Home-Centered Women Workers, I. National Congress-Final Resolution)
Ankara. (in Turkish)
Doc. No 22: Nfusbilim Dernei, 2005, Toplumsal Cinsiyet Gstergeleri Oluturma
Eylem Plan, KSSGM iin hazrlanm rapor. (Population Studies Association, 2005, Action
Plan for designing National Gender Equality Indicators special report prepared by National
Machinery-DGSPW), (in Turkish)

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Doc. No 23: Kadnn nsan Haklar Vakf-Yeni zmler, 2003, Kadnn nsan Haklar
Eitimi Program 1995-2001- Deerlendirme Raporu, by Nkhet Kardam (Women for
Womens Human Rights-New Ways, 2003, Training Program for Womens Human Rights.
follow up report by Nkhet Kardam. (in Turkish)
Doc. No 24: DGSPW, 2004, Response of Republic of Turkey to the Questionnaire on
Implementation of Beijing Platform for Action, (in English)
Doc. No 25: UNICEF, 2003, Study Group (dr. Nur Otaran, et.all.), Gender Review in
Education, Turkey 2003, UNICEF Publication, (in English)
Doc. No 26: European Training Foundation, 2003, Background Study on Labour Market
and Employment in TURKEY, nsan Tunal, FINAL REPORT/June 27.
Doc. No 27: T.C. Babakanlk, 2006 Personel ve Prensipler Genel Mdrl, Genelge:
ocuk ve Kadnlara Ynelik iddet Hareketleriyle Tre ve Namus Cinayetlerinin
nlenmesi in Alnacak Tedbirler.
Doc. No 28: 2006/17 Sayl Babakanlik Genelgesi Kapsamnda Genel Mdrlmze
letilen Kurum Ve Kurululara Ait Faaliyet Raporlarnn zeti: KSSGM Faaliyet Raporu
Doc. No 29: Eitim-Sen, 2006, niversite Ynetimlerinde kadnlara Yer yok! (There is no
place for women in Universitiess Head Officies) (in Turkish)
Doc. No 30: stanbul Bilgi niversitesi nsan Haklar Merkezi, 2003, Sosyal ve Kriminolojik
Aratrmalar alma Grubu, Kadna Ynelik iddet, stanbul. (Social and Criminological
Studies Group, 2003, Violence Against Women, Istanbul Bilgi University, Human Rights
Center)
Doc. No 31: TUSIAD, 2000, Kadn-Erkek Eitliine Doru Yry: Eitim, alma
Yaam ve Siyaset, (by Mine Tan, Yldz Ecevit, Serpil Sancar) (Pub. no.; TSAD-T/200012/290) (Towards Gender Equality: Education, Employment, Political Participation), Istanbul.
(in Turkish, executive summary in English)
Doc. No 32: UNDP, 2006, Trkiyede Siyaset ve Kadn Kamuoyu Aratrmas, stanbul
(Politics and Women in Turkey: Public Opinion Research).
Doc. No 33: Prof. Dr. Ersin Kalaycolu, Prof. Dr. Binnaz Toprak, 2004, Yaam, st
Ynetim ve Siyasette Kadn, TESEV. (Women in Business, Management and Politics).
Doc. No 34: Do.Dr. Attila Hancolu, Banu Akadl zgmen, 2003, Kadnlarn Temel
zellikleri ve Statleri, HUNEE, TNSA.

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Doc. No 35: Do. Dr. Hakan Ylmaz, (et.all.), 2006, Trkiyede Muhafazakarlk: Aile,
Ekonomi, Din, Bat: lk Sonular zerine Genel Deerlendirme. (in Turkish)
(Conservatism: Family, Economy, Religion, West), TESEV. (unpublished).
Doc. No 36: Aksu Bora, lknur stn, 2005, Scak Aile Ortam: Demokratikleme
Srecinde Kadn ve Erkekler, Alglar ve Zihniyet Yaplar, (Warm Hands of Family:
Women and Men, Perceptions and structures of Mentality in the Process of democratization)
TESEV Publications, stanbul.
Doc. No 37: KAGIDER, 2005, Social and Economic Status of Women in Turkey.
Doc. No 38: IHD, 2005, nsan Haklar hlalleri Raporu, (Annual Report on Violation of
Human Rights, including the number of womens rights violation.)
Doc. No 39: UNDP, 2006, Human Development Report 2006.
Doc. No 40: World Economic Forum, 2005, Womens Empowerment: Measuring the
Global Gender Gap.

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DEFINITIONS
Gender: In addition to age, gender is one of the universal dimensions on which status
differences are based. Unlike sex, which is a biological concept, gender is a social construct
specifying the socially and culturally prescribed roles that men and women are to follow.
Gender equality: Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. Women are entitled
to live in dignity and in freedom from want and from fear. Empowering women is also an
indispensable tool for advancing development and reducing poverty. Yet discrimination
against women and girls - including gender-based violence, economic discrimination,
reproductive health inequities, and harmful traditional practices - remains the most pervasive
and persistent forms of inequality. In addition, women and girls bear enormous hardship
during and after conflict and other humanitarian emergencies.
The equal participation of women and men in the development of their societies, and the
equal access to the benefits of developmentis still out of reach for most women worldwide.
Women continue to have fewer rights, lower education and health status, less income, and
less access to resources and decision-making than men. Nevertheless, womens critical
roles in food production, income generation, management of natural resources, community
organization and domestic responsibilities are essential for sustainable development. If
equitable and sustainable progress is to be achieved, womens status must be improved,
their rights must be respected, and their contributions must be recognized.
A "gender-equal society" is a "society in which both men and women, as equal members,
have the opportunity to participate in all kinds of social activities at will, equally enjoy political,
economical and cultural benefits, and share responsibilities." In such a society, the human
rights of men and women are equally respected. Women who desire an active role in society
may participate in activities of their own choosing, while men could enjoy a fulfilling home
and community life. A gender-equal society is a society built by men and women as equal
partners.
Gender Mainstreaming
The concept of bringing gender issues into the mainstream of society was clearly established
as a global strategy for promoting gender equality in the Platform for Action adopted at the
United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women, held in Beijing (China) in 1995. It
highlighted the necessity to ensure that gender equality is a primary goal in all area(s) of
social and economic development.
"Mainstreaming a gender perspective is the process of assessing the implications for women
and men of any planned action, including legislation, policies or programmes, in any area
and at all levels. It is a strategy for making the concerns and experiences of women as well
as of men an integral part of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of

69

policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres, so that women and
men benefit equally, and inequality is not perpetuated. The ultimate goal of mainstreaming is
to achieve gender equality."
Mainstreaming includes gender-specific activities and affirmative action, whenever women or
men are in a particularly disadvantageous position. Gender-specific interventions can target
women exclusively, men and women together, or only men, to enable them to participate in
and benefit equally from development efforts. These are necessary temporary measures
designed to combat the direct and indirect consequences of past discrimination.
Mainstreaming is not about adding a "woman's component" or even a "gender equality
component" into an existing activity. It goes beyond increasing women's participation; it
means bringing the experience, knowledge, and interests of women and men to bear on the
development agenda.
It may entail identifying the need for changes in that agenda. It may require changes in goals,
strategies, and actions so that both women and men can influence, participate in, and benefit
from development processes. The goal of mainstreaming gender equality is thus the
transformation of unequal social and institutional structures into equal and just structures for
both men and women.
Violence against women
Violence against women and girls includes physical, sexual, psychological, and economic
abuse. It is often known as "gender-based" violence because it evolves in part from women's
subordinate status in society. Many cultures have beliefs, norms, and social institutions that
legitimize and therefore perpetuate violence against women. The same acts that would be
punished if directed at an employer, a neighbor, or an acquaintance often go unchallenged
when men direct them at women, especially within the family.
Two of the most common forms of violence against women are abuse by intimate male
partners and coerced sex, whether it takes place in childhood, adolescence, or adulthood.
Intimate partner abusealso known as domestic violence, wife-beating, and batteringis
almost always accompanied by psychological abuse and in one-quarter to one-half of cases
by forced sex as well. The majority of women who are abused by their partners are abused
many times. In fact, an atmosphere of terror often permeates abusive relationships.
The United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of Violence against Women (1993)
defines violence against women as "any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is
likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including
threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public
or in private life."

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Womens human rights

Abuses against women are relentless, systematic, and widely tolerated, if not explicitly
condoned. Violence and discrimination against women are global social epidemics,
notwithstanding the very real progress of the international women's human rights movement
in identifying, raising awareness about, and challenging impunity for women's human rights
violations.
We live in a world in which women do not have basic control over what happens to their
bodies. Millions of women and girls are forced to marry and have sex with men they do not
desire. Women are unable to depend on the government to protect them from physical
violence in the home, with sometimes fatal consequences, including increased risk of
HIV/AIDS infection. Women in state custody face sexual assault by their jailers. Women are
punished for having sex outside of marriage or with a person of their choosing (rather than of
their family's choosing). Husbands and other male family members obstruct or dictate
women's access to reproductive health care. Doctors and government officials
disproportionately target women from disadvantaged or marginalized communities for
coercive family planning policies.
The aim of the concept of womens human rignhts is to expose and denounce as human
rights violations those practices and policies that silence and subordinate women. It rejects
specific legal, cultural, or religious practices by which women are systematically
discriminated against, excluded from political participation and public life, segregated in their
daily lives, raped in armed conflict, beaten in their homes, denied equal divorce or
inheritance rights, killed for having sex, forced to marry, assaulted for not conforming to
gender norms, and sold into forced labor. Arguments that sustain and excuse these human
rights abuses - those of cultural norms, "appropriate" rights for women, or western
imperialism - barely disguise their true meaning: women's lives matter less than men's.
Cultural relativism, which argues that there are no universal human rights and that rights are
culture-specific and culturally determined, is still a formidable and corrosive challenge to
women's rights to equality and dignity in all facets of their lives.
A woman's human rights framework equips women with a way to define, analyze, and
articulate their experiences of violence, degradation, and marginality. The idea of women's
human rights provides a common framework for developing a vast array of visions and
concrete strategies for change.
Honor Killing
Honour crimes are a range of abusive acts that women experience. Honour killing can be
defined as acts of murder in which a woman is killed for her actual or perceived immoral
behavior. Such "immoral behavior" may take the form of marital infidelity, refusing to submit
to an arranged marriage, demanding a divorce, flirting with or receiving phone calls from men,
failing to serve a meal on time, or "allowing herself" to be raped. Honour killings are murders

71

by families on family members who are believed to have brought "shame" on the family
name.Some victims are driven to suicide from the pressure of their families.
It transcends beyond Muslim communities and affects women from a wide range of racial
groups. Womens lives are increasingly being controlled and it is often women who are
refuse to live up to their defined roles who become victims. The phenomenon of honour
killing is global and has been reported all over the world on a regular basis i.e. in Iran, Turkey,
Afghanistan, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Palestine, Jordan, Bangladesh, Algeria, Brazil,
Ecuador, Morocco, India, Israel, Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, Balkans, Sweden, Holland,
Germany, Italy, Yemen and many more places.
Although thousands of women are murdered by their families each year in the name of
honour, yet it is not possible to have a correct statistics of the number of victims of honour
due to the lack of information and availability. The murders frequently go unreported and
often remain as a private family affair; no truthful official statistics are available on the
practice or its frequency.
According to United Nation reports, every year, 5000 women are murdered under the pretext
of Honour Killings worldwide. This is just the tip of the iceberg; the reality is far higher. It
shows only official reports and doesn't mention unreported murders in rural areas, missing
women, those who their birth never been registered, neither their death. It doesnt include
thousands of women and young girls who burned themselves to death and committed
suicide because of family pressures, religious or cultural issues, forced marriages, domestic
violence, etc.

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