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Concluding Declarations

Concluding Declaration of the 22nd Assembly of Women’s Shelters and Solidarity Centres

By 22/09/2017January 2nd, 2025No Comments

The 22nd Assembly of Women’s Shelters and Solidarity Centres was hosted by Women’s Solidarity Foundation (KADAV), Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation and International Migrant Women’s Solidarity Association on 2-4 November in İstanbul with the participation of LGBTI+ organizations and women’s organizations working to combat male violence against women, feminists, and women working in the field of violence against women at municipalities and institutions under the Ministry of Family, Labour and Social Services. A total of 270 women from 29 provinces, 50 women and LGBTI+ organizations and 33 public institutions attended the Assembly meeting held with the main heading of Feminist Social Policies for Combatting Violence.

This year at the Assembly, we evaluated feminist social policies that will empower women and help them distance themselves from the environment of violence and looked into good practices in Turkey and across the world. We know that it is vital for women to access to social services they need when they experience violence as this would prevent the escalation of the aggression to murder. Women’s shelters are not the only option for and the sole need of women. What is needed is the provision of all types of economic support, psychologic, professional, legal and social counselling and guidance services, housing support and the right to nurseries for their children. Today, on the one hand, the downsizing of social states leads to the scope and the impact of egalitarian social policies becoming less and less rights-based as the aid-based approach comes to the fore, and on the other hand, legal achievements made so far in favour of women with regard to their social rights are being opened up for discussion again, as is the case with the discussions on the right to alimony. We once more reiterate that the right to alimony should be addressed from the stance of gender inequality, gender-based violence and women in poverty. Feminist social policies, which we advocate as the components of the Assembly, above all contain a gender-based criticism of current approaches, fighting for social policies that are anti-discriminatory and centred on specific situations and specific needs. We, as organizations that are centred on combating violence against women, demand that empowering social policies be developed based on gender equality; we hereby declare that we will follow the practices of social service institutions and will stress at every opportunity how important it is that these institutions use feminist methods.

Thanks to the women’s struggle and the policies developed at these council meetings, there is a rise in the number of women’s shelters, another significant mechanism that will empower and help women distance themselves from violence and build themselves a new life. However, the activities carried out at newly opened women’s shelters adopt an approach, which is not based on equality and empowering women and coerces women into obedience. Women’s shelters which empower women, listen to what they have to say, do not approach them as victims and adopt a rights-based method as opposed to an aid-based approach are the path to a “World Without Shelters”, the main motto of the Assembly for 22 years. This is why we underline the necessity to draw on the feminist shelter movement.

Both the international conventions to which Turkey is a party and the laws adopted as a result of women’s struggle point to the necessity to establish a social service mechanism covering women of all groups. The İstanbul Convention specifies in detail the road map needed for a qualified social service mechanism. However, we need the willpower to use the roadmap and implement these laws. On the contrary, today these international conventions are under the attack of diverse groups both in Turkey and in Europe which have misogyny in common. As a consequence of these attacks, we see an attempt in Turkey to render the convention nugatory. In October 2018, Turkey completed its first monitoring process with the publication of the baseline evaluation report of the Group of Experts on Action against Violence against Women and Domestic Violence (GREVIO), responsible for monitoring the implementation of the İstanbul Convention. However, throughout the monitoring process the state submitted reports that failed to focus on key issues or answer to the delegation’s questions. After the publication of the evaluation report, the state only gave a defensive answer that was critical of the GREVIO report. We are aware that these actions of the state aim at rendering the convention nugatory. We will be following the actions taken to rectify the shortcomings stated in the evaluation report.

Differences among women and inequalities among different women groups require that multiple discrimination be taken into account while considering complaints of violence. Accessibility means women’s enjoyment of their rights without barriers while any differences among women are given due consideration. For instance, women with disabilities who are subjected to violence or at risk of violence are either turned down because institutions are not adequately equipped or they refrain from filing a complaint of violence with the institutions in the first place. Consequently, the violence related complaints of women with disabilities cannot be filed, which in turn creates an impression that they are not experiencing violence. If women with disabilities do not file complaints of violence, this does not necessarily mean that they do not experience violence; it means that they cannot access relevant mechanisms. Violence and social policy mechanisms for migrant women in Turkey are far from being effective. Migrant women, migrant children and migrant LGBTI+ persons are rendered vulnerable and exposed to violence due to wars, displacement and political polarization. State policies are far from being participatory, comprehensive or effective in particular in relation to the mass migration caused by the war environment in Syria. Migrants face an increasingly more severe violence due to the fear of repatriation, language barriers and the feeling that they are not wanted here. Migrant women specifically face a risk of all forms of gender-based violence. We all know that no one migrates without reason and no one is illegal.

Women’s rights on their own bodies (the freedom to give birth or not) are sabotaged by male violence and state policies. In Turkey, termination of pregnancy is legal until the 10th week of gestation; nonetheless, the language used in policies and de facto barriers create the impression that abortion is banned. The General Recommendation no. 35 adopted by the Committee on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) clearly states that forced abortion and the banning of abortion are both forms of gender-based violence and should be prevented.

We know the significance of Social Equality Units at municipalities in terms of the capacity of local governments in developing social policies to prevent violence against women; and we underline the necessity of establishing these units. However, recent trusteeship appointments, dismissal of co-chairs and the detentions in the region override the efforts to prevent violence against women and cause the loss of social rights.

In addition to trusteeship appointments in the region, 43 women’s organizations were closed by Decrees. Women experiencing violence cannot contact associations to seek assistance. The records of previous applications for assistance were destroyed so it is not possible to access these records and monitor the applications. This situation amounts to a systematic encouragement of violence by the hands of the state. We continue to stand in solidarity with our friends who are determined to carry on their work despite the closure of their organizations.

We, the women, women’s organizations and LGBTI+ organizations that came together at the 22nd Assembly of Women’s Shelters and Solidarity/Counselling Centres, once more declare that we will continue to engage in monitoring and advocating activities to overcome the shortcomings and problems in the implementation of our achievements so far, which we will never forsake. We continue our struggle against violence embracing our differences, with the help of our effective solidarity mechanisms for an equal and free world without borders and exploitation. We hereby share with the public our common demands we identified at the Assembly to ensure an effective continuity of our efforts to combat male violence against women:

  1. The discourse of “you are not equal” frequently repeated by the upper echelons of the state permeates every area of public mechanisms and incites discrimination against violence and consequently violence. It is imperative to stop such discourse immediately.
  2. Staff working in judiciary and law enforcement should receive mandatory in-house and gender-equality based trainings on violence against women with the aim of ensuring that the gender equality principle is internalized and followed in every public field as an integral policy.
  3. Holistic policies should be followed to prevent women from facing bureaucratic barriers; and all support mechanisms should be well coordinated and function promptly.
  4. Efforts should be made to ensure that a rights-based perspective, as opposed to an aid-based approach, prevails in activities involving women and public-CSO partnerships.
  5. With a view to establishing holistic mechanisms, a central system should be set up to ensure that confidentiality orders issued under the law no. 6284 are accessed from a single source by every official institution.
  6. Municipalities and their affiliates should fulfil their responsibilities vis-à-vis support mechanisms for women experiencing violence. Relevant directorates at municipalities should have a woman’s perspective.
  7. Resuming education should be facilitated for women if they demand it and likewise, vocational trainings should be provided to women if they are interested. The Ministry of National Education should provide the necessary infrastructure in this regard.
  8. It is necessary to establish support mechanisms which are suitable for the specific conditions of women who face multiple discrimination on the grounds of their disability, sexual orientation, language etc.; and accessibility of women to these mechanisms should be provided. For instance, women with disabilities who are subjected to domestic violence, harassment or abuse, are coerced into staying in the environment of violence to avoid homelessness because after they file a complaint for violence, their caregivers are again their family members. Support mechanisms should be developed in consideration of these specific conditions. Disadvantaged groups facing multiple discrimination should be given priority in counselling services.
  9. Staff at ŞÖNİMs, women’s solidarity centres and women’s shelters should receive supervisory support. Workers should be given tasks with a focus on alleviating the wear and tear of the work; and their working hours should be reduced.
  10. The number of professionals and social workers at ŞÖNİMs and women’s shelters should be increased and efforts should be put in to provide 24/7 services with experts.
  11. The by-law on ŞÖNİMs should be implemented in the same way everywhere.
  12. Instead of implementing specialization policies to resolve the existing problems at women’s shelters, priority should be given to identifying and dealing with the general needs and shortcomings of women’s shelters. Furthermore, social policies should be developed from a pro-women perspective.
  13. Women’s organizations should have a say in the functioning and oversight of the state’s women’s shelters and ŞÖNİMs and they should be included in the oversight mechanisms. Persons who have a woman’s perspective should be employed in these institutions. There should be regular meetings between the employees of these institutions and women’s organizations working on violence and they should exchange data on violence.
  14. Physical conditions at the women’s shelters should be improved. It is important to plan rooms specific for women and children and provide safe spaces for children. Child-adolescent activities at women’s shelters should be carried out in a qualified manner. In accordance with Law no. 6284 and the “By-Law on Women’s Guesthouses”, a separate housing should be provided for women who have sons over 12 years old and who contact women’s shelters for help, without the prerequisite that their lives be at risk.
  15. Women staying at women’s shelters should be guided towards participating in certificate programs based on their areas of interests. Women should be empowered in respect of vocational skills. Course periods should be arranged in proportion with the women’s duration of stay at the women’s shelters.
  16. A 24/7 helpline should be devised in consideration of the needs of persons with disabilities and provide support in multiple languages only to women and children. An adequate number of staff and experts on violence against women should be employed at the helpline.
  17. Qualified data and statistics should be maintained and shared with the public in order to ensure a more effective combat against violence against women and children in Turkey. The importance of maintaining data on the combat against violence should be addressed with gravity and determination.
  18. Since 2002, there has not been any research about women with hearing disabilities. There should be studies that center on the needs of women with disabilities, revealing the forms of violence they experience.
  19. Cautionary orders should be issued on a case-by case basis in consideration of the needs and the criteria for ensuring safety and empowerment.
  20. In such cases, it is necessary to cancel the process of conciliation by referring to the relevant article of the convention and giving a justification as well as explaining the secondary violence and pressure mechanism. As stated in the İstanbul Convention, a mandatory mediation with the perpetrator should certainly not be carried out.
  21. No fees should be charged in enforcement of alimony orders. Women who suffer a loss of rights on account of unpaid alimonies should be compensated.
  22. Stalking should be criminalised in Turkish Penal Code.
  23. All mechanisms to protect children and serve their best interests should be in place including defining the forced marriages of children aged 12-15 as rape.
  24. Women who experience violence should have unconditional access to free support and complaint mechanisms without requiring any documentation. In case of violence, judicial assistance services of bar associations should appoint attorneys without requiring any documentation. In criminal prosecutions where a casefile does not require a mandatory legal counsel, an attorney should be assigned to the women if violence is committed. Attorneys assigned to such cases should have the required proficiency.
  25. Awareness of policy makers and the public about multi discrimination should be raised. Social workers at women’s shelters and counselling centres should be informed about the rights of persons with disabilities. Support should be provided to women with disabilities to enable them to live independent lives.
  26. To tackle multiple discrimination, inter-agency networks should be established based on local service maps.
  27. To ensure a proper communication, it is imperative to urgently design a multi-language and non-sexist mechanism which considers disability and disadvantaged status and can function in particular in sign language, Arabic, Persian and Kurdish.
  28. All types of social support mechanisms for transgender persons should be effectively put into practice and be accessible.
  29. Measures should be taken against sexist and discriminatory discourse in the media, which does not reflect the truth.
  30. Employment opportunities should be available and increased for women and LGBTI+ persons.
  31. Legal conditions should be satisfied to reopen closed women’s organizations.
  32. Abortion, which is legal until the 10th week of pregnancy, should be available in health units to all women regardless of age and civil status. Barriers to abortion in practice should be removed. Women staying in any of public institutions (women’s shelters, prisons etc.) should have access to abortion services.
  33. The provision of spousal consent for termination of pregnancy, which is specified in article 6 of the law no. 2827, should be removed from legislation and spousal content should no longer be a requirement to perform abortion.
  34. Women should have access to sexual health and reproductive health services; and all barriers to access to these services should be lifted.
  35. Primary healthcare institutions should provide free and easy access to information, available methods and counselling about contraceptives to both women and men. Public should be informed that information, methods and counselling about contraceptives are available at primary healthcare institutions. A mandatory referral mechanism should be established and state policies should be in line with this practice.
  36. Rape crisis centres should be opened to scan and prevent sexually transmitted diseases in the aftermath of sexual assaults, take measures to prevent pregnancy and provide psychological support to survivors of sexual assault.
  37. Effective policies should be developed to prevent child pregnancy and forced marriages.
  38. All of these practices and undertakings should be coordinated with women’s organizations in line with their recommendations.
  39. The Ministry of National Education and the Ministry of Health should develop joint protocols to provide sexual health education at schools.

Components of the Assembly of Women’s Shelters and Solidarity Centres *

  1. Adana Women’s Solidarity Centre and Shelter Association (AKDAM)
  2. Antalya Women’s Counselling Centre and Solidarity Association
  3. Aydın Söke Women’s Shelter Association
  4. Bodrum Women’s Solidarity Association
  5. Buca Evka-1 Women’s Culture and Solidarity Association (BEKEV)
  6. Çanakkale Association for Utilizing Women’s Handicraft and Women’s Counselling Centre (ELDER)
  7. Çiğli Evka-2 Women’s Culture Association (ÇEKEV)
  8. Edirne Women’s Central Solidarity Association (EKAMEDER)
  9. Association of Women With Disabilities (ENG-KAD)
  10. Fethiye Women’s Counselling and Solidarity Association
  11. İzmir Women’s Solidarity Association
  12. Women’s Solidarity Foundation
  13. Women’s Solidarity Foundation (KADAV)
  14. Koza Women’s Association
  15. Mersin Independent Women’s Association (BKD)
  16. Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation
  17. Mor Salkım Women’s Solidarity Association
  18. Muğla Emek Benim Women’s Association
  19. Şanlıurfa Yaşamevi Women’s Solidarity Association
  20. International Migrant Women’s Solidarity Association (UGKDD)
  21. Life, Women, Environment, Culture and Business Cooperative (YAKA-KOOP)

*Adıyaman Women’s Life Association, Ceren Women’s Association, Gökkuşağı Women’s Association, Muş Women’s Roof Association, Muş Women’s Association, Selis Women’s Association and Van Women’s Association, which are components of the Assembly of Women’s Shelters and Solidarity/Counselling Centres, are not listed above because they were closed by the Decree (KHK/677) dated 22 November 2016 on Some Measures Within the Scope of the State of Emergency.

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