BY FIKRET BILA
MILLIYET- Attempts to establish gender equality through amending the Constitution are once again in the spotlight. From the outset, when it was founded, Turkey took the lead in gender equality long before many European countries. For example, women’s suffrage was granted in 1928 in Britain, 1934 in Turkey, 1946 in France and 1972 in Switzerland. But over the last 80 years, Turkish women somehow fell behind. In the 1995 elections, the number of female deputies in our Parliament rose to 18. Today we have 24 female deputies, in other words 4% of the assembly. However, this figure is 40% in Scandinavian countries, including Switzerland. The percentage of women’s representation in local administrations in these countries is 40%, but unfortunately a woeful 1% in Turkey. Constitutional Commission Chairman Burhan Kuzu told Parliament about all this yesterday. This data show that it’s not enough to recognize gender equality only on paper. It must also be ensured in practice, which can be done by establishing protection and encouraging measures favoring women. In addition, arrangements towards this end should be guaranteed constitutionally.
Women’s societal status is one of the best gauges of a country’s development. Rights engraved in law books don’t mean that they can actually be used. In a patriarchal society, women’s ability to exercise their rights and get what they deserve requires affirmative action under current conditions. The Justice and Development Party (AKP) is resisting such arrangements and thus raising suspicions that its idea of women’s rights goes only as far as defending the right to wear headscarves. The AKP’s wish to live under European values should be tested. An opposition Republican People’s Party’s (CHP) proposal for affirmative action was rejected by the ruling party. The AKP has not been successful on women’s rights or gender equality. This fact should be recognized firstly by its female members. The AKP’s stance on this issue reflects its consideration for Turkey’s women and its political choice and also conflicts with our hopes for European Union membership.