‘We Don’t Give up on Our Rights or Our Lives’

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Gathering at Cumhuriyet Square in Ayvalık, Balıkesir upon the call of Ayvalık Women's Initiative, women have carried banners with the names of women killed in the districts of Ayvalık, Gömeç, Edremit, Dikili and Burhaniye.

Chanting the slogans "Women are strong together" and "We are not mourning, we are revolting", women have made the following statement:

"Before November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, we are at squares to tell authorities 'Prevent feminicides immediately' (with the hashtag #KadınCinayetleriniACİLÖNLE)

'Feminicides can be prevented'

"Here, we are sharing the names of 10 women who were killed in the Körfez (Bay) area. Unfortunately, these 10 women are only a few of thousands of women killed across Turkey.

"What these feminicides have in common is, above all, the fact that men feel themselves justified in committing these murders and these feminicides are waiting to happen, in other words, they can be prevented at several stages.

"İstanbul Convention and the Law no. 6284 are the most important tools in our hands against violence against women. If these laws had been effectively enforced, each and every killed woman could be alive today.

Attention to judicial reform

"While we are trying to voice our demands for the prevention of violence, the judicial reform package, which is about to be discussed by the Parliament, has two important aspects concerning women. One of them is the regulation foreseeing restricted alimony right for women; the other is a previously withdrawn regulation foreseeing amnesty to child abuse through marriage.

"We, the women, have brought these struggles to this day with the gains of women's rights. That is why, we are laying claim to them. We will open a stand in the bazaar area to inform women about the importance of these rights one by one. We do not give up on our rights or our lives." (Gİ/DB/SD)