World-renowned women: To the women in Turkey, we stand with you and hear you

Actresses, artists and singers from around the world have joined the social media campaign that started after Pınar Gültekin was murdered by a man. Women post their black-and-white pictures, attaching the note, "Challenge accepted."

İstanbul

World-renowned women: To the women in Turkey, we stand with you and hear you

* All photos: Instagram

Click to read the article in Turkish

Reported missing in Turkey's Aegean province of Muğla on July 16, university student Pınar Gültekin (27) was found dead in a forest area five days later. Shortly afterwards, a man named Cemal Metin A. has been arrested for "killing her with monstrous feelings."

Following Gültekin's death, a social media campaign has been launched with the participation of several women under the hashtag #challengeaccepted.

As the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) politicians have kept on making statements hinting at Turkey's possible withdrawal from the İstanbul Convention, the campaign has gained even more pace.

As you can see below, women from around the world have also supported the campaign by sharing their black-and-white pictures on social media:

'When women support one another...'

Artist and TV Presenter Sofia Vergara from Colombia has attached the following note to her picture: "Great things happen when women support one another. ❤️ Gracias to everyone who nominated me."

'I am guided by warm, generous women'

Artist Nicole Kidman has said, "Challenge accepted. Thank you Kerry Washington, Michelle Pfeiffer and Carole Bayer Sager for nominating me! I have been nurtured, loved, mentored and guided by so many generous, warm and intelligent women. May I continue to offer you all that I can through my art and life. #WomenSupportingWomen."

'We hear you, the women in Turkey'

Artist Jessica Biel has shared an especially warm message:

"It took me a second to catch up and learn what this is really all about. To put it simply - it is a global reminder for women to support women... especially those whose voices are not being heard (here, and around the world). To the women in Turkey, we stand with you and hear you.

"And for the women here in the US - this is a reminder that we need to use our voices to protect each other...and vote on the issues that affect women. With the election coming up, it is more important now than ever."

'Empowering women'

Businessperson and former singer Victoria Beckham has also said,

"Challenge accepted! Thank you for the nomination. Empowering women has always been at the heart of Victoria Beckham. I will be nomination all the inspirational women in my life (of which there are many!)".

'Let's stand together'

Under the hashtag #ChallengeAccepted, singer Christina Aguliera has written: "Upon learning the origin of this trend, let's stand together and put an end to violence against women everywhere."

She has also used the hashtag #istanbulsözleşmesiyaşatır, which means, "İstanbul Convention keeps one alive."

'I am thankful for the women in my life'

Artist Michelle Pfeiffer has also said, "I am thankful everyday for the women in my life. #WomenSupportingWomen."

'My intention is to be as uncomfortable as possible'

Singer and artist Juliette Lewis has also written, "No matter what artistic medium; my intention has always been to be as visceral, and uncomfortable as possible, dominate and leave it all on the floor.

"You know what I am saying?"

Artist Eva Green has joined as well

About İstanbul Convention

* Source: CoE

The Council of Europe (CoE) "Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence", also known as "İstanbul Convention", is based on the understanding that violence against women is a form of gender-based violence that is committed against women because they are women. It is the obligation of the state to fully address it in all its forms and to take measures to prevent violence against women, protect its victims and prosecute the perpetrators.

As of March 2019, it has been signed by 45 countries and the European Union (EU). On March 12, 2012, Turkey became the first country to ratify the Convention, followed by 33 other countries from 2013 to 2019 (Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Cyprus, Denmark, Finland, Estonia, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Monaco, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Portugal, San Marino, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland). The Convention came into force on 1 August 2014.

* Click here to read the full convention

(PT/SD)