AMED - In the report of the Amed Network for Combating Violence, it was stated that prisons were the most common areas where violence was most prevalent in 2023.
The components of the Amed Anti-Violence Network announced the report prepared for the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November at Rosa Women's Association. Amed Bar Association Women's Rights Center member Merve Karadaş said: "The applications we receive show that new forms of violence, such as digital violence, narrow and control women's living spaces. During 2024, 9 murders of women in Diyarbakır were reported in the press, but it is estimated that the actual figures are much higher than this. Deficiencies in the implementation of Law No. 6284 and the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention are the main factors that increase violence. In a country where justice does not work and the policy of impunity continues, women cannot access justice and all forms of violence become widespread. Especially in murders against women, the impunity of perpetrators is one of the main reasons for this increase."
'THE MOST INTENSE VIOLENCE IN PRISONS'
Merve Karadaş pointed out that prisons are among the places where violence is most intense and said: "Women prisoners in Diyarbakır Women's Closed Prison are forced to live in conditions contrary to human dignity with practices such as strip searches, ill-treatment and deprivation of health services. Preventing ill prisoners from accessing treatment and arbitrary execution postponements are clear examples of violations of the right to life. The pressure against women in prisons has become not only physical but also psychological and social violence."
TRUSTEE PRACTICES
Merve Karadaş said: "State-sponsored anti-LGBTQ+ rallies, hate speech and bans threaten individuals' rights to life and security. Bans on pride marches are a clear violation of constitutional rights. Violence against women and LGBTQ+ is fuelled by economic inequalities, patriarchal oppression and political pressure. Trustee policies target women's gains; women's shelters are closed and counselling centres are rendered dysfunctional. In the municipalities where trustees have been appointed, women's right to protection from violence has been de facto taken away. These systematic attacks on the political and social gains created by the Kurdish women's movement target social peace and women's resistance. However, women continue to be the voice of resistance and freedom against these oppressions with the slogan 'jin, jiyan, azadî (Women, life, freedom)'."
DEMANDS
Merve Karadaş listed the following demands: "Istanbul Convention must be returned to and policies based on gender equality must be implemented. Law No. 6284 must be implemented effectively and protection measures must be organised in accordance with individual needs. Good behaviour and unjust provocation discounts for perpetrators of femicides and hate crimes must be stopped. HPV vaccination must be made free of charge and women's health services must be strengthened. Regulations guaranteeing the constitutional rights of LGBTQ+ persons must be made and hate crimes should be effectively combated. The number of women's shelters must be increased and the damages caused to women by trustee policies must be eliminated. Judicial harassment against women rights defenders must end; women's freedom of association and freedom of expression must be protected."
Reacting to the banning of the slogan "Jin, jiyan, azadî", Merve Karadaş said: "We have to stop violence against women, stand against patriarchal oppression and fight for social equality. 'jin, jiyan, azadî' is not just a slogan, it is a symbol of life, freedom and resistance. You cannot ban or silence this slogan. Society cannot be liberated without the liberation of women."
The data in the report are as follows:
"* Psychological violence: 1,204
* Economic Violence: 861
* Physical Violence: 969
* Sexual Violence: 265
* Digital violence: 261
* Mobbing: 334
* Willful murder: 2
* Attempted willful murder: 2
* Attempted suicide: 26
* Torture and ill-treatment: 6
* Agencification: 7
* Law enforcement pressure: 7
* Hunger strike: 8
* Prison violations: 3
* House raids:1
* Exile: 2
* Violation of the right to health: 1"