BEŞİKTAŞ IS AGAINST VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN!

We continue to implement practices and projects to eliminate violence against women.

Our Municipality carried out awareness activities within the scope of theInternational Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, 25 November, we placed posters on billboards drawing attention to the Istanbul Convention.

On the posters, there were attention-grabbing expressions such as ‘If the Istanbul Convention had been enforced, the perpetrator would have been punished and therefore could not have killed his ex-wife/partner.’, ‘If the Istanbul Convention had been enforced, the good conduct time would not be applied to the perpetrator of violence.’, ‘If the Istanbul Convention had been enforced, another woman would be alive.’

Last year in September, a new directorate - Women and Family Department of Beşiktaş Municipality had started its works with the decision taken in the Beşiktaş Municipal Council, and within the framework of the "Light the Dark with Fireflies" campaign launched by UN Women, all the streets and avenues in which women did not feel safe were illuminated by our municipality.

Also, in order to emphasize gender equality, an awareness campaign ‘Gender Equality Begins at Home’ was launched in order to draw attention to equal sharing of social responsibilities at home. During the epidemic process, which people spent more time at home, the campaign drew attention to the fact that the domestic responsibilities at home don’t belong solely to women.

Our municipality, which enables our citizens to easily access the content of the İstanbul Convention by asking ‘Have You Read The Istanbul Convention?’, this time, has raised awareness about the elimination of violence against women with the motto ‘If the Istanbul Convention had been enforced…’

Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, saying "Violence against women is the most vital problem of our people, our country, and it is necessary to put forth a tremendous effort to solve this problem", shared a video on his social media accounts for November 25. In his post, Akpolat said, "We are always full supporters of the Istanbul Convention, which guarantees a non-violent life for women."

Women’s Solidarity & Life Center

As part of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, November 25, a new solidarity & life center for women was opened in Beşiktaş by the municipality. The Women’s Solidarity & Life Center started its activities as a living space that women can live, produce, and improve themselves.

Women and their children exposed to violence will be able to receive support in our center on issues such as psychological support, legal consultancy, employment, and social rights. The Women's Solidarity and Life Center, which will serve our citizens with a psychologist, a lawyer, and an employment officer, serves not only as a shelter but also as a living space that supports women and their children in psycho-social terms.

Have you read the İstanbul Convention?