2020 has been hard. We have been hit by a pandemic that halted life at multiple levels. This sudden and global event made us realize how valuable our little conveniences in life are. We now realize what it means to travel, have coffee outside our home, meet with friends, and shop for groceries. Now we miss the chores we despised.
There is another pandemic that has been here for years: Violence against women. Women in most places cannot live their ordinary lives without brutality, harassment, inequality, or aggression. Globally, 35 % of women have experienced physical and/or sexual violence by their partners. 137 women are killed by a member of their family every day. Calls to help lines have increased five-fold in some countries during the COVID-19 epidemic.
Some countries are especially darker. In 2009, 42% of Turkish women between the ages of 15 and 60 were subject to violence. Global Gender Gap Index 2020 ranks Turkey 130th among 153 countries.
Since the alleged coup attempt in 2016, women’s rights have been systematically ignored and violated by the Turkish authorities. Many women in custody were subject to strip searches. They were asked to undress and squat while naked, sometimes with cameras present. More than 5,000 women have been jailed as political prisoners, 600 women were held in detention with their children including 100 women who were pregnant or had just given birth. 780 babies are imprisoned alongside with their mothers who were not convicted of any crimes.
AST will organize protests in more than 25 locations including, New York, Washington, Toronto to raise the voice to end the violence against women in Turkey and in the World. Your participation will be extremely valuable to all the women suffering under the violence and motivate who are joining their efforts to make a difference.
Be a part of these protests, help the victims of violence, spread the word!
Advocates of Silenced Turkey
For more info
Help@silencedturkey.org
Support
https://silencedturkey.org/donatenow
Report on Women Rights violations
WOMEN’S RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY THE TURKISH LEGAL SYSTEM