İstanbul Bar calls for legal action after revelations of sexual harassment

*May you lose sleep, thinking, "When will I be exposed?"

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After a group of women exposed the harassment and sexual assault by several prominent literary figures in the country on social media, a new campaign like the Me Too movement has started.

Women use the slogan "May you lose sleep," implying that the men who harassed women should worry about when they would be exposed.

CLICK - 'Me too' movement in Turkey's literature: 'May they lose sleep'

The judiciary must now take action about the revealed incidents based on women's statements, according to the İstanbul Bar Association.

The Bar's Women's Rights Center has released a written statement in support of the new movement, saying that women have the right to expose those who harassed and sexually assaulted them.

"For a while, women, with the courage and strength they get from women's solidarity, have been revealing the harassments and sexual assaults they were subjected to and the men who did those.

"As it is clear that the male-dominant mentality prevails in our country and that the power of privileged men is feared, the statements of these brave women should be taken as a basis and the necessary legal action should be taken immediately.

"The international conventions that Turkey is a party to and our national legislation obligate the state for the prevention of violence, effective investigations, the punishment of the one who used violence, the protection of those who were aggrieved by violence, the compensation of losses and forming supportive policies.

"At this point, the most important task of the state is to eliminate all kinds of violence against women, to ensure that women trust the judicial system and to facilitate their access to justice.

"Because the conventions and laws are not implemented effectively, women are afraid of expressing the violence they suffer in the public, social and private spaces and stand back.

"For the prevention of violence and a real protection to be provided, the principle of 'Women's statement is essential' must be fully included in the justice system, effective investigations should be conducted on the basis of women's statements that they were subjected to violence, harassment, sexual assault or rape and the perpetrators should be given the heaviest punishment." (EMK/VK)