Women's rights

A new three-year project aiming to support civil society on women's rights in Turkey has kicked off in an event bringing together the representatives of the European Union Delegation to Turkey, U.N. Women, civil society, government representatives and other stakeholders in the capital Ankara.

Daniela Drandic of 'Parents in Action: Roda [Stork]', a Croatian NGO that lobbies for the protection of women's rights in pregnancy and parenthood, said the accounts reflect a widespread failure to listen to and trust women, as well as a lack of confidence among women in the efficiency and fairness of the courts.

Hazal Kaya, a prominent Turkish actress, has been selected as the new goodwill ambassador of Turkey by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).

UNFPA Turkey announced the selection through a live broadcast from its social media account with the participation of Kaya.

The so called "Istanbul Convention" once seemed relatively uncontroversial: a 25-page document meant to reduce violence against women across Europe. 

But a decade later, the initiative, known as the Istanbul Convention, has unexpectedly become a proxy fight for the larger culture battles brewing between East and Western Europe. 

The group of 13 men of the Chlopaki group have been getting together regularly since late 2019 in what they call "men's circles", to hang out and talk about what it's like to be a man in contemporary Poland. Along the way, they have created a safe space where they feel accepted and loved, while sharing their deepest emotions and openly manifesting affection with one another.

Turkey has rebuffed criticisms from the West over its decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, a pact designed to counter violence against women.

The Turkish Foreign Ministry said on March 21 that withdrawal from the convention should not be regarded as a concession on the fight against violence against women.

Turkey responded late on March 21 to international reactions following its decision to withdraw from a European treaty aimed at preventing and combating violence against women.

"The Republic of Turkey's withdrawal from the treaty should not be interpreted as compromising on combating violence against women," the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement.

Ljubljana – Slovenia’s most senior officials called for continued efforts to improve gender equality on International Women’s Day, praising women’s contribution to the battle against Covid-19. They also noted Slovenia’s comparably good gender equality record.

Women in many countries in Southeast and Central Europe staged rallies on Monday, marking International Women's Day, opposing violence and discrimination and highlighting the important role women are playing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A female protester holding a feminist flag  on International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women in Istanbul, March 6 2021. Photo: EPA-EFE/SEDAT SUNA

Turkish women have been holding protests and marches since Friday, and nine women were detained by police for carrying LGBTI flags at a protest in Istanbul's Kadikoy Pier Square.