Male Violence Towards Women on Parliamentary Agenda

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Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) MP Semra Güzel has submitted a parliamentary question regarding the male violence inflicted on women.

In her parliamentary question addressed to Minister of Labor, Social Services and Family Zehra Zümrüt Selçuk, Güzel has directed a series of questions:

• "Do you think that your Ministry has developed effective policies in struggle against violence towards women? How do you explain the increasing incidents of violence?
• "Do you consider it a social problem that women, who demand to use their right to divorce as free individuals, are 'punished' by men as a result of this demand?
• "What is the justification for the confidentiality orders imposed on case files of femicides?
• "Considering that it is necessary to prevent these incidents not after the violence is inflicted, but before the violence occurs, why cannot you produce effective policies in that regard?
• "Do you plan to produce effective policies to prevent child abuse?"

Referring to the recent incidents of male violence in Malatya, MP Güzel has also asked, "Do you have any special research or policy regarding these incidents that took place in such a short span of time in Malatya?".

"Male violence not isolated, but political"

In her parliamentary question, Güzel has also referred to the male violence monitoring reports of bianet and stated,

"In the first nine months of 2018, 183 women and girl children were massacred by men. 50 women were raped. 162 women were subjected to harassment and 279 girl children were sexually abused. These figures are the ones which can be officially reached. It is known that the actual number of such incidents is much higher."

In concluding her parliamentary question, Güzel has emphasized that "incidents of male violence are not isolated, but political." (EMK/SD)