ABHaber 14.02.2007 Strasbourg

 

European Parliament Passes Report Critical of Women's Rights in Turkey

The European Parliament yesterday adopted a report on women's role in social, economic and political life in Turkey, saying Turkish legislation on women's rights has greatly improved, but the Turkish woman in the street often does not felt the effects.

The report by Turkish-origin Dutch MEP Emine Bozkurt passed by 522-15 with 53 abstentions follows the EP's July 2005 resolution on women's role in Turkey, highlighting key areas of concern. It welcomes the start of active EU accession negotiations with Turkey, but "regrets the slowing down of the reform process in Turkey over the last year and the persistent problem with women's rights" and reiterates the EP's call for "full and effective implementation of the community acquis in the field of women's rights, particularly in the poorer regions of the country."

The MEPs urged the Turkish government to speed up implementation of the new legislation on women's rights so as to ensure that it is absolutely in line with the requirements of the acquis and effectively implemented in practice.

The report condemns "instances of violence against women, including "honor" killings, domestic violence, forced marriage and polygamy." It calls on the Turkish government and European Commission to tackle "violence in general and honor crime in particular" as a priority and to set up special high-security shelters. The report also "stresses the importance of systematic investigation and effective punishment" and therefore the training of police and judicial authorities in gender equality issues and the fight against violence. The MEPs called on Turkish institutions to build alliances with all groupings -- civil, social or religious -- in society so as to initiate awareness-raising campaigns against violence against women and children.

The report says that the political participation by women in Turkey is too low and that there is an absolute need for female role models in positions of power and decision-making. The MEPs added that discrimination against women can sometimes best be remedied by temporary positive discrimination measures. They also urged the political parties in Turkey, starting with this year's general elections, to field more female candidates.