Women Mark Places Where They Feel Unsafe in Turkey with a Firefly: Map Full of Fireflies

* Photo: UN Women

Click to read the article in Turkish

United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has launched a campaign "Light the Dark with Fireflies".

Launched on the occasion of November 25 International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, the campaign has been participated by thousands of women across Turkey.

CLICK - #LightTheDark on November 25

Not a single place in Turkey without fireflies

As part of the campaign that will continue till December 10, the first day of Human Rights Week, women have marked places where they do not feel safe throughout Turkey with a firefly. Women have left these fireflies on the map published on the website of the campaign.

CLICK - Join the campaign (Turkish)

When the map, which is still being marked by women, is analyzed, it can be seen that women feel unsafe in several places across the country, especially in İstanbul, Ankara and İzmir, the three major provinces of Turkey.

The map does not have a single place without fireflies.

'Fireflies light the dark when they feel unsafe'

As part of its "Sixteen Days of Activism Against Gender Violence", UN Women has introduced its campaign in following words:

"The 'Light the Dark' campaign aims to end violence against women in public spaces and contribute to create safer cities and violence free public spaces. The inspiration of the campaign is fireflies, which communicate with and protect one another with their blinking lights.

"The campaign calls for actions by all citizens, local authorities and public institutions, to make cities and public spaces safe, healthy, inclusive and secure environments for everyone to live and participate in urban life without fear of violence and intimidation.

"Using fireflies that light the dark as its logo, the campaign invites everyone to visit the website atesbocekleri.info and mark those spaces where they feel unsafe. The participants can also share their personal experience by leaving their comments.

'A life free from violence is a prerequisite for gender equality'

"Women and men live in the same city but experience public spaces differently. Women and girls all over the world are exposed to verbal, sexual, physical, economic, psychological harassment and other forms of violence in public spaces when they are walking on the streets, running errands, using public transport or using public facilities.

"Violence has a negative impact on their access to social activities, education, employment and leadership opportunities, as well as their health and well-being. A life free from violence is one of the prerequisites for gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls. During 16 Days of Activism, UN Women calls for support and engagement in the campaign by using the hashtags in Turkish #ateşböcekleri and #karanlığıaydınlat and aim to mobilize everyone to make the spaces that we live safer."

(EMK/SD)