BY DERYA SAZAK
MILLIYET- Columnist Derya Sazak comments on the plans of a prominent Turkish women’s group. A summary of his column is as follows:
The Association for Supporting and Educating Women Candidates (KA-DER) is due to hold a conference on “Seeking Solutions for Women’s Issues” in Istanbul this coming weekend, June 14-15. During the conference, such problems will be discussed under four working group categories:
Women in Turkey’s economy and business life * Education for women and girls * Ending violence against women Women in politics and decision-making processes
KA-DER Chair Ayse Hatip Dicleli said that the results of the conference would be followed for one year by a 10-person follow-up committee, and that issues showing progress would be presented to the public in a report next January. The draft reports for the upcoming conference decry the persistence of discrimination against women in every field, and in particular in politics. In spite of KA-DER’s efforts, representation of women in both Parliament and local administrations has been falling.
Today, among 179 countries, Turkey ranks 140 in terms of women’s representation in elected government posts. In last fall’s elections, 24 female deputies were elected to the 550-member Parliament, or just 4.3% percent. This rate is even below that in 1935, 4.6%, when female deputies were elected for the first time. More than 30% of Turkey’s qualified work force and university graduates are women, but this has failed to translate into similar representation among our decision-makers. Today Turkey has not even a single female governor, and just one woman mayor. The parties have so-called ‘women’s assemblies,’ but these are only for show, and the Cabinet has just one female member.
However, the ‘Peking + 5’ document, to which Turkey is a signatory, and our European Union membership process both oblige us to end all forms of discrimination against women. The way to reach this goal in male-dominated societies is to take special measures. During this weekend’s conference, KA-DER will urge the preparation of a constitutional package for gender equality, one making mandatory at least 30% women’s representation and participation in party administrations, local assemblies and Parliament. Towards this end, it will suggest amending the Political Parties and Elections Law.
Turkey can never be truly modern without implementing such an ‘affirmative action’ program. At this weekend’s conference, KA-DER will turn women’s issues into a social crusade. And they will have my support.
SOURCE: OFFICE OF THE PRIME MINISTER, DIRECTORATE GENERAL OF PRESS AND INFORMATION