Women's Organizations Call for Urgent Action Plan to Prevent Male Violence During Pandemic

*We want neither to die from male violence nor corona / We want to live (Photo: Women's Defense Network)

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"When we began to see the effects of the corona in Turkey, we once again have faced the reality of staying home, along with thinking about our health."

- Sezen Özkan from the Women's Defense Network (Kadın Savunma Ağı).

"I think it would be good if the state says, 'We are getting through an extraordinary period. We have taken precautions. We will remove those who exercise violence away from home'."

- Melike Keleş from the Mor Çatı Women's Shelter Foundation.

"It is imperative to announce an urgent action plan for women in the days of the corona."

- Fidan Ataselim from the We will Stop Feminicides Platform

News reports say that male violence, domestic violence, in particular, has increased in countries such as China, Italy and Sweden quarantine conditions during the coronavirus pandemic.

Is the safety of women ensured in Turkey while people are being urged to stay home? We spoke with women's organizations about their suggestions.

"We want a 24/7 phone line against male violence"

Being forced to stay home by the government, their fathers, husbands, boyfriends or brothers is very common for women, says Sezen Özkan. Social isolation, which is key in the fight against the pandemic, compels women to live with perpetrators of male violence, hence increasing violence by three times, she says, adding that also makes male violence invisible and intervention more difficult.

"We want the İstanbul Convention, Law No 6284 [on Protecting the Family and Violence Against Women] and restraint orders to be implemented effectively in these conditions," Özkan says.

She also suggests that a 24/7 emergency line for violence on women should be established.

"Those who use violence should be removed from home"

There are a lot of questions around the issue, says Melike Keleş from the Mor Çatı Foundation. "What kind of work does the state have on this issue? We do not know. We will see in the coming days, but it shouldn't be late."

"Women generally call the Mor Çatı when their husbands are not at home. They apply to police stations for support when their husbands are not at home. Therefore, it is very difficult for women to reach mechanisms for phone support in this period of staying home.

"In this period, none of the women who called our support line called from home. They probably don't have the possibilities to call from home. Women who left home or went out for 'shopping' called us.

"Great duties fall on the state here. An urgent action plan can be created and a team that would create solutions can be formed.

"Law No. 6284 and the İstanbul Convention should be fully implemented by law enforcement, prosecutors and all parties.

"A woman wants to leave home when she is subjected to violence but it is very difficult in today's conditions. At this point, the state must remove those who use violence from home upon [Law No.] 6284. But women are rightfully afraid because there are a lot of troubles in the implementation. The police remove the man, but he comes one hour later and inflicts violence. The lock of the door should be changed, the police should threaten the man with arrest and should not leave the woman.

"Economic support for women needs to be offered more widely and quickly. In corona conditions, measures are tried to be taken for the elderly; measures should also be taken for women and it should be ensured that women benefit from economic support widely and quickly.

"Digital violence and assaults are also increasing. There is an urgent need to take measures against this."

"Precautions shouldn't be sexist"

Fidan Ataselim from the We will Stop Femicides Platform and the Women's Assemblies says that the implementation of the İstanbul Convention and Law No. 6284 must not be complicated because of the measures against the pandemic and that state agencies must do video and live broadcasts about them.

"It is imperative to announce an urgent action plan for women in the days of the corona.

"Virus protection should not be an obstacle to protecting women from violence. For this, precautions and practices against the virus must be integrated awareness that there is gender inequality.

"Access to women's rights should be facilitated. Online services should also be used actively for women's rights. Complaint, application, file sending should be made digitally.

"In case of violence and threats of violence, support and counseling mechanisms for women should work 24/7.

"It may be more difficult for women to complain because they are in the same place as the perpetrator. Authorities should make statements about standing with women in all circumstances. Tips by third persons should be handled carefully.

"As women staying home will reproduce gender roles, different measures must be taken. Domestic labor shouldn't be made invisible. Sexist work-sharing shouldn't be normalized.

"Precautions for corona shouldn't be sexist. They shouldn't be handled as we are equal. They should be protective of women." (EMK/VK)