A Chronic Problem: Violence Against Women in Turkey
Turkey had a major victory on November 22nd when the Prime Minister withdrew a despicable bill that would have exonerated men convicted of having sex with underage girls if they subsequently married their victims. It was an abhorrent proposal that would have legitimized child rape and encouraged the outdated practice of adult men taking child brides. (1)
Turkey is a regional military powerhouse鈥攊t has NATO鈥檚 second-biggest military force, after the US鈥攚ith the Turkish Armed Forces often venerated for ensuring Turkey鈥檚 democratic and secular traditions (although President Recep Tayyip Erdogan鈥檚 ongoing assertion of civilian control of the military continues to neuter the institution). (2,3,4)聽A reputation for robust security forces, however, contravenes jarring threats to human security within the country, particularly for women and girls who are sometimes viewed as second-class citizens (or, even worse, as property) by the very law enforcement officers meant to protect them. While security experts rightly focus on aiding refugees and stabilizing Turkey鈥檚 schizophrenic ISIS policies, attention must also be given to Turkey鈥檚 systemic failures to prevent and punish violence against women and girls within its own borders.
Women in Turkey enjoy far better legal protections than many of their Middle Eastern neighbors: sexual assault (including marital rape) and domestic violence are punishable, and divorce laws give women a stake in marital property. But deep-seated, restrictive views of women’s roles still foment violence, and the patchy implementation of existing laws often fails to protect Turkey’s more than 37 million women and girls.
Early Marriages Endanger Girls
The marriageable age in Turkey is 18, although parents can apply for exemptions for 16- and 17-year-olds. (5) Alarmingly, these under-17 marriage unions constitute one-third of marriages in Turkey鈥攁nd that’s without the addition of 鈥渕arriages鈥 performed illegally by religious figures, on girls as young as 10. (6) These girls often drop out of school to become homemakers, and, in short order, stay-at-home mothers.聽
Early marriage is particularly common in rural areas in southern and eastern Turkey, where poorer families might see a financial advantage to foisting teenage daughters onto another family. (7) Stories abound of teenage girls marrying much older men, as when a 15-year-old was forcibly married to a 40-year-old man who then beat her regularly. (8) As that anonymous woman describes, 鈥渁ll I wanted to do was to go out and play hopscotch with my friends. I used to dread night-times.鈥 (9)
Protective legislation weakened in July 2016, when a judge struck down a law criminalizing sex with any person under 15 years of age. (10) The judge criticized the now-defunct law for failing to differentiate between someone who violates a 14-year-old versus a four-year-old. (11) Unfortunately, his decision generated a legislative void that will only embolden sexual abusers who would participate in either practice.
聽Child marriages have taken on a new dimension with the influx of nearly 2.8 million Syrian refugees to Turkey, including some 370,000 Syrian girls who are out of school. (12, 13)聽Many Syrian parents who married off their daughters in Turkey admitted in a survey that they would not have done so had they had more money; marriage seems a plausible way to keep food on the table.聽(14) With the addition of Syrian girls, the percentage of girls in Turkey marrying before age 18 has risen to 15%. (15)
Deadly Violence
Domestic violence is appallingly common, with Turkey’s Ministry of Family and Social Policies reporting that a jaw-dropping 86% of women in Turkey reported experiencing physical or psychological violence from a partner or family member. (16) Over 300 women died of domestic violence in 2015 alone. (17) Anti-violence laws are on the books, but deterrence is limited because men convicted of domestic violence often receive lenient sentences if a judge deems their demeanor to be 鈥減ositive and/or respectful.鈥 (18) Occasionally, judges send women who report domestic violence home with the perpetrators. (19) In 2014, this led to dozens of women being killed by their abusive spouses even after applying for police protection. (20)
Violence comes from strangers, too. A 20-year-old student named Ozgecan Aslan was brutally murdered in February 2015 when she fought back against an attempted rape by pepper-spraying the bus driver who ultimately killed her. (21) Some criticized Aslan’s clothing the night of her attack: a journalist explained, 鈥減erpetrators think that these women deserved to die. When a woman wears a miniskirt she deserves to get raped. When a woman doesn’t do cooking and taking care of children and when she doesn’t do that some men thinks she deserves to die.鈥 (22, 23)聽Social taboos obviate justice in many such cases: 鈥渢here are countless [other] cases like Ozgecan鈥檚, where the family decides to hide all of the evidence instead because rape goes against their honor.鈥 (24) Even if a case makes it to trial, a judge may lessen a sentence if the woman is deemed to have 鈥減rovoked鈥濃攊n clothing, appearance, or action鈥攈er assailant. (25)
Women who escape violent homes have few options for refuge. Turkey runs approximately 100 official shelters that accommodate fewer than 3,000 women, with overburdened non-profit organizations struggling to care for the remaining 20,000-plus women who seek shelter each year. (26, 27)
Fighting Back
Activism may seem futile in a country whose President openly called women unequal to men, and where the Deputy Prime Minister urged women not to laugh in public, lest they 鈥渋nvite鈥 unwanted male attention. (28, 29)聽Luckily, President Erdogan’s authoritarian style has not yet silenced Turkey’s robust human rights and feminist movements. The recently-rescinded bill was withdrawn only after enormous protests by hundreds of men and women, as well as an online petition signed by 800,000.聽(30) Hundreds of men demonstrated after Aslan’s death, with hundreds marching in miniskirts in Istanbul, and hundreds more posting pictures of themselves wearing skirts on social media, with the hashtag 鈥渨ear a miniskirt for Ozgecan.鈥 (31)
Women are also taking matters into their own hands. To combat domestic violence, one NGO has started providing free shooting and martial arts classes for women (although strict gun laws render the shooting lessons more symbolic than actionable).聽(32) On the problem of child marriages, others are trying to solve the root problem of economic dependence in a country where fewer than one-third of women earn their own income.聽(33) Accordingly, numerous charities are giving girls job training and scholarships in order to break a cycle that yokes girls to male providers. (34)
Technology helps, too. The 鈥淓asy Rescue鈥 app covertly connects Turkish users to police and ambulance services when they shake their phones; it has been downloaded more than 250,000 times and used 10,000 times.聽(35) Vodafone Turkey, who produced the app, marketed it toward women by writing information about it in the labels for women’s underwear and swimsuits, and within videos about makeup. (36)聽
Human rights defenders in Turkey must not be cowed by the size of the task in front of them. Child marriages and rampant domestic violence are the twin results of backward views that see women and girls as property or second-class citizens, rather than complete people inherently deserving of human rights. Continued activism can push those dangerous, outdated views forward, to achieve progress in the dual arenas of legislation and cultural change.
摆1闭听听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.产产肠.肠辞尘/苍别飞蝉/飞辞谤濒诲-别耻谤辞辫别-38061785
摆2闭听听听听听丑迟迟辫蝉://飞飞飞.迟丑别苍别飞蝉.肠辞尘.辫办/辫谤颈苍迟/135515-罢耻谤办别测-丑补蝉-狈补迟辞蝉-蝉别肠辞苍诲-濒补谤驳别蝉迟-尘颈濒颈迟补谤测-蹿辞谤肠别
摆3闭听听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.飞蝉箩.肠辞尘/补谤迟颈肠濒别蝉/迟耻谤办颈蝉丑-驳辞惫别谤苍尘别苍迟-迟颈驳丑迟别苍蝉-肠辞苍迟谤辞濒-辞惫别谤-尘颈濒颈迟补谤测-1469740628
[4]聽 聽聽http://www.wsj.com/articles/turkish-government-tightens-control-over-military-1469740628
摆5闭听听听听丑迟迟辫蝉://飞飞飞.迟丑别驳耻补谤诲颈补苍.肠辞尘/箩辞耻谤苍补濒颈蝉尘肠辞尘辫别迟颈迟颈辞苍/飞丑测-颈蝉-别补谤濒测-尘补谤谤颈补驳别-补-辫谤辞产濒别尘-颈苍-迟耻谤办别测
摆6闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.丑耻谤谤颈测别迟诲补颈濒测苍别飞蝉.肠辞尘/肠丑颈濒诲-尘补谤谤颈补驳别蝉-尘补办别-耻辫-辞苍别-迟丑颈谤诲-颈苍-迟耻谤办别测.补蝉辫虫?笔补驳别滨顿=238&补尘辫;狈滨顿=92170&补尘辫;狈别飞蝉颁补迟滨顿=339
摆7闭听听听听丑迟迟辫蝉://飞飞飞.驳濒辞产补濒驳颈惫颈苍驳.辞谤驳/辫谤辞箩别肠迟蝉/别苍诲-肠丑颈濒诲-产谤颈诲别蝉/
摆8闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://迟丑别颈谤飞辞谤濒诲.辞谤驳/苍别飞蝉/驳谤辞飞颈苍驳-耻辫-尘补谤谤颈别诲-蹿颈濒尘-蝉丑颈苍别蝉-濒颈驳丑迟-辞苍-肠丑颈濒诲-产谤颈诲别蝉-颈苍-迟耻谤办别测
摆9闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://迟丑别颈谤飞辞谤濒诲.辞谤驳/苍别飞蝉/驳谤辞飞颈苍驳-耻辫-尘补谤谤颈别诲-蹿颈濒尘-蝉丑颈苍别蝉-濒颈驳丑迟-辞苍-肠丑颈濒诲-产谤颈诲别蝉-颈苍-迟耻谤办别测
[10]聽 聽聽http://nsnbc.me/2016/08/10/turkeys-constitutional-court-removes-minimun-legal-age-clause-more-child-brides-coming/聽 聽聽
[11]聽聽聽聽http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/turkeys-constitutional-court-stirs-outrage-by-annulling-child-sex-abuse-clause.aspx? pageID=517&nID=101607&NewsCatID=509
摆12闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://诲补迟补.耻苍丑肠谤.辞谤驳/蝉测谤颈补苍谤别蹿耻驳别别蝉/肠辞耻苍迟谤测.辫丑辫?颈诲=224
摆13闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://迟丑别颈谤飞辞谤濒诲.辞谤驳/苍别飞蝉/驳谤辞飞颈苍驳-耻辫-尘补谤谤颈别诲-蹿颈濒尘-蝉丑颈苍别蝉-濒颈驳丑迟-辞苍-肠丑颈濒诲-产谤颈诲别蝉-颈苍-迟耻谤办别测
摆14闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.驳颈谤濒蝉苍辞迟产谤颈诲别蝉.辞谤驳/肠丑颈濒诲-尘补谤谤颈补驳别/迟耻谤办别测/
摆15闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://迟丑别颈谤飞辞谤濒诲.辞谤驳/苍别飞蝉/驳谤辞飞颈苍驳-耻辫-尘补谤谤颈别诲-蹿颈濒尘-蝉丑颈苍别蝉-濒颈驳丑迟-辞苍-肠丑颈濒诲-产谤颈诲别蝉-颈苍-迟耻谤办别测
摆16闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.颈蝉谤补别濒苍补迟颈辞苍补濒苍别飞蝉.肠辞尘/狈别飞蝉/狈别飞蝉.补蝉辫虫/210182
摆17闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.颈蝉谤补别濒苍补迟颈辞苍补濒苍别飞蝉.肠辞尘/狈别飞蝉/狈别飞蝉.补蝉辫虫/210182
摆18闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.颈蝉谤补别濒苍补迟颈辞苍补濒苍别飞蝉.肠辞尘/狈别飞蝉/狈别飞蝉.补蝉辫虫/210182
摆19闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.辫谤颈.辞谤驳/蝉迟辞谤颈别蝉/2016-07-19/飞辞尘别苍-补谤别-产别颈苍驳-蝉颈濒别苍肠别诲-迟耻谤办别测蝉-肠谤补肠办诲辞飞苍
摆20闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.补濒箩补锄别别谤补.肠辞尘/苍别飞蝉/2015/05/150506071905719.丑迟尘濒
摆21闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.诲飞.肠辞尘/别苍/诲辞尘别蝉迟颈肠-惫颈辞濒别苍肠别-颈苍-迟耻谤办别测-谤别补肠丑别蝉-产辞颈濒颈苍驳-辫辞颈苍迟/补-18576377
摆22闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://迟颈尘别.肠辞尘/3718618/迟耻谤办别测-尘别苍-尘颈苍颈蝉办颈谤迟蝉-辞锄驳别肠补苍-补蝉濒补苍/
摆23闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.产产肠.肠辞尘/苍别飞蝉/飞辞谤濒诲-别耻谤辞辫别-31709887
摆24闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.诲飞.肠辞尘/别苍/诲辞尘别蝉迟颈肠-惫颈辞濒别苍肠别-颈苍-迟耻谤办别测-谤别补肠丑别蝉-产辞颈濒颈苍驳-辫辞颈苍迟/补-18576377
摆25闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://驳濒辞产补濒谤颈驳丑迟蝉蹿辞谤飞辞尘别苍.辞谤驳/2015/04/10/濒别驳颈蝉濒补迟颈辞苍-颈蝉-苍辞迟-别苍辞耻驳丑-迟耻谤办别测-蹿补颈濒蝉-迟辞-别苍蹿辞谤肠别-颈迟蝉-惫颈辞濒别苍肠别-补驳补颈苍蝉迟-飞辞尘别苍-濒补飞蝉/
摆26闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.补濒箩补锄别别谤补.肠辞尘/颈苍诲别辫迟丑/蹿别补迟耻谤别蝉/2014/02/迟耻谤办别测-濒颈蹿别-产补迟迟别谤别诲-飞辞尘补苍-2014257594926477.丑迟尘濒
[27]聽 聽http://www.hurriyetdailynews.com/un-womens-rights-committee-reviews-status-of-women-in-turkey.aspx?pageID=238&nID=101653&NewsCatID=339
摆28闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.产产肠.肠辞尘/苍别飞蝉/飞辞谤濒诲-别耻谤辞辫别-31709887
摆29闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.补濒箩补锄别别谤补.肠辞尘/苍别飞蝉/2015/05/150506071905719.丑迟尘濒
摆30闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.迟谤迟飞辞谤濒诲.肠辞尘/颈苍-诲别辫迟丑/迟耻谤办别测蝉-蝉别虫耻补濒-补产耻蝉别-肠辞苍迟谤辞惫别谤蝉测-别虫辫濒补颈苍别诲-237722
摆31闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://迟颈尘别.肠辞尘/3718618/迟耻谤办别测-尘别苍-尘颈苍颈蝉办颈谤迟蝉-辞锄驳别肠补苍-补蝉濒补苍/
摆32闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.补濒箩补锄别别谤补.肠辞尘/苍别飞蝉/2015/05/150506071905719.丑迟尘濒
摆33闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://飞飞飞.补濒箩补锄别别谤补.肠辞尘/苍别飞蝉/2015/05/150506071905719.丑迟尘濒
摆34闭听听听听丑迟迟辫蝉://飞飞飞.驳濒辞产补濒驳颈惫颈苍驳.辞谤驳/辫谤辞箩别肠迟蝉/别苍诲-肠丑颈濒诲-产谤颈诲别蝉/
摆35闭听听听听丑迟迟辫://蹿辞谤迟耻苍别.肠辞尘/2015/07/14/诲辞尘别蝉迟颈肠-惫颈辞濒别苍肠别-补辫辫-迟耻谤办别测/
摆36闭听听听丑迟迟辫://蹿辞谤迟耻苍别.肠辞尘/2015/07/14/诲辞尘别蝉迟颈肠-惫颈辞濒别苍肠别-补辫辫-迟耻谤办别测/
More 国产视频 the Authors
Related
Cosmetology Students Deserve Better Than Debt and Broken Promises
Mixed-Member Proportional Representation and the U.S. House of Representatives
