'Me Too of Lawyers': Revelations of Harassment Lead to Foundation of New Movement

Photo: Evrim Kepenek / bianet

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"It was the first days of my internship, I didn't understand what he was doing."

"Nobody would believe you."

"He threatened me, saying, 'I have acquaintances in good positions at courthouses, your criminal complaint wouldn't even be processed'."

This is how women lawyers describe the harassment by M.K., a man lawyer.

A trainee solicitor and a law student named Öykü was the first one who revealed the harassment by M.K. In a Twitter account where she didn't give her surname, she had told how she was sexuallt assaulted by the lawyer whom she was working with as a trainee solicitor. She filed a criminal complaint against M.K. on February 20.

After Öykü, other women lawyers stated that they were sexually harassed and exposed to mobbing by M.K. as well.

As revelations were dubbed as "the me too of women lawyers," a court arrested M.K. on the charge of "aggravated sexual assault." 

The events led to the foundation of the Women Lawyers' Solidarity to tell that sexism in the judiciary is not limited to M.K. and to solidarize with their colleagues.

The Solidarity on March 7 released a declaration of stance, which was signed by hundreds of women lawyers.

No to 'male justice'

Gathering at the İstanbul Courthouse yesterday (March 10), members of the Solidarity showed a banner reading "No male justice but real justice."

Lawyer Diren Cevahir Şen read out a statement in the name of the group: "As women lawyers, we are in rebellion. We address the Ministry of Justice and the bar associations. We can no longer tolerate waiting."

The statement expressed the following demands:

Judicial organs, the Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSK) and the Ministry of Justice should effectively investigate and punish civil persons, courthouse employees and members of the judiciary for sexual assault and every type of violence based on gender.

Bar associations should create professional principles of ethics that ban every type of discrimination and prevent male lawyer violence, create a disciplinary law where the acts of sexual assault and violence on women are meticulously investigated, preventive measures are taken and rapid and effective sanctions are imposed, and rapidly conclude ongoing investigations.

The principle of "woman's statement is essential" should be taken as the basis in starting investigations; protective principles against discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity should be determined.

At least half of those who hold a duty in internship of judges, prosecutors and lawyers should be women.

Egalitarian education topics in internships and in the education of the law of criminal procedures should be basic education topics and lawyers from women's should give these educations.

'Reveal male violence'

"We don't want to see anymore judges who measure skirt lengths, wardens who assault women arrestees, lawyers who think sexual assault on attornyes is their right," the statement said.

"We call on all our colleagues who were subjected to sexual violence and all types of violence based on gender to reveal this crime, take it to the judiciary and to disciplinary processes at bar associations."

Women lawyers speak about sexism in the judiciary

Fulya Dağlı

"As well as many women, we, as women lawyers, experience mobbing, invisible violence, harassment," attorney Fulya Dağlı says, adding that there are also violence "specific" to them.

'When we take action, we face barriers'

"This violence may come from staff, judges, prosecutors, lawyers of the police. But when we take action, when we fight against violence by a lawyer, we face a very serious barrier, such as expressions like, 'You can't work anymore, your life would be over.'

"But, we have begun to raise our voices in this area as well as many other areas. We know that M.K. is not the first. We have come together against this sexual assault. Our demonstration will not be the first either. We will respond to violence with the solidarity we established against our men colleagues."

Yıldız İmrek

Attorney Yıldız İmrek says bar associations should immediately take action.

"We want discrimination to come to an end and effective investigations to be conducted against men's crimes. We want disciplinary boards of bar associations to take action. We want bar associations to train [lawyers] against sexism. We want all judges and prosecutors to be trained in terms of gender equality."

Bar associations are 'ineffective'

Attorney Medine Turantaylak stresses that bar associations are "ineffective" in terms of gender equality and women lawyers who are specialized in this subject should give training in this matter.

Medine Turantaylak

"The training that women should give is given by men lawyers. In this regard, we invite bar associations to act in an egalitarian way. We face mobbing by our own colleagues as well as by prosecutors. We address our female colleagues, especially women trainee solicitors: You are not alone. We're here. Reveal every harassment you were exposed to. We are with you until the end," she says.

Seher Eriş

Attorney Seher Eriş says more to come after the demonstration they held.

"Women lawyers are subjected to male violence. We knew that but we don't stay silent anymore. We read out a statement with at least a thousand signatures. We declared that women lawyers will be together against all types of inequality caused by men, especially male violence. From now on, we will resolutely continue to raise our voice." (EMK/VK)