No Improvement in Discrimination against Women

In today's session (21 July), the United Nations (UN) evaluates whether Turkey met its obligations related to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW). While the Turkish government presents the sixth country report to the UN, women organizations will present the CEDAW Shadow Report.

The CEDAW Shadow Report was prepared during the past two years with the support of the TCK Women's Platform, 20 women's non-governmental organizations as members of the CEDAW Civil Society Steering Committee, six nationwide women organizations and 135 local and independent women organizations.

The report puts forward concrete demands by the women's organizations and proposals for urgent action. It touches upon topics such as equality before the law, participation in politics and decision processes, education, employment, health, media and violence against women.

No equality before the law

The CEDAW Shadow report urges the Turkish government to abide by standards defined by CEDAW. The report comprises the following findings and suggestions:

* The principle of equality before the law is still lacking in basic laws like the Constitution, the Turkish Criminal Code (TCK) or the Turkish Civil Law (TMK).

* The Law on the Framework of Equality should be lifted; the Constitution should include temporary special measures for equality. Related to the TCK, regulations on honour killings, virginity tests and discrimination based on sexual orientation should be removed as well as provisions containing discrimination based on the choice of sexual relationships for young people. The regulation on the "common share of goods obtained during marriage" should be amended with retrospective effect.

* The proportion of women participating in politics and decision making processes amounts to nine percent in the Turkish Grand National Assembly (TBMM) and eight percent in the Council of Ministers. The Law on Political Parties and Elections should include a provision on equality of 50 percent and temporary measures to provide gender equality.

Moreover, the report draws attention to the fact that the development of women's rights was extremely limited since the last CEDAW Review Process. All demands voiced in 2005 are being reiterated.

Women's organizations participate in Wednesday's session

The Women Organization Delegation established on behalf of the involved platforms participate Wednesday's (21 July) CEDAW Turkey Review Process Session which is attended by a government delegation Minister for Women and Family Affairs Selma Aliye Kavaf. The delegation will bring forward their requests for providing gender equality in Turkey.

The CEDAW Committee will assess the government's report as well as the Shadow Report prepared by the women's organizations and then publish the Final Opinion on the status of women in Turkey.

CEDAW was adopted by the UN in 1979 as an international and binding bill of rights for women. Turkey signed the convention on 20 December 1985. Like the other countries that approved the convention, Turkey presents periodic reports to the CEDAW Committee to convey measures taken to prevent discrimination against women. (SP/VK)