Nazan Moroğlu Discusses Women's Rights in Beşiktaş

As part of the International Women's Day events on March 8th, Beşiktaş Municipality hosted a talk at Beltaş Kitap Kafe featuring Atty. Nazan Moroğlu, Vice President of the Lawyers' Foundation and Turkey's first expert in women's law. During the event, Moroğlu shared significant insights into the historical development of women's rights both in Turkey and across the globe.

Meeting with book enthusiasts for a talk and signing session of her book, “Devrim Yasamız Medeni Kanun 100 Yaşında” (Our Revolutionary Law: The Civil Code is 100 Years Old), Moroğlu evaluated key issues such as women's rights, violence against women, and gender inequality.

"The Foundations of Women’s Rights are Rooted in the Republic"

Emphasizing the link between the Republic and women's rights, Moroğlu stated:

"It is impossible to discuss women's rights without addressing the founding of the Republic. While there were some developments in women's rights through Westernization movements in the late Ottoman period, the legalization process of these rights is remarkably difficult in states governed by religious rules. Following the establishment of the Republic, women's rights gained a solid and legal foundation through the revolutionary laws implemented in line with the roadmap set by Atatürk."

Moroğlu also reminded the audience of the struggles in Europe, noting that women in France realized they were excluded from the declaration of equality and freedom published after the French Revolution. "Consequently, two years after the revolution, they wrote and publicly read the Declaration of the Rights of Woman and of the Female Citizen. Unfortunately, the three women who wrote and read this text were executed by guillotine," she added.

Constitutional Guarantees in Turkey

Highlighting that equality between men and women is under constitutional protection in Turkey, Moroğlu referred to the regulations in Article 10 of the Constitution:

"Our Constitution includes a comprehensive article guaranteeing gender equality. With the 2004 amendment, the phrase ‘Women and men have equal rights. The State has the duty to ensure that this equality is put into practice’ was added. In 2010, it was further emphasized that the State would take all necessary measures to implement this equality."

Political Representation and Combatting Violence

Addressing the representation of women in education and politics, Moroğlu pointed out that according to Ministry of Family and Social Services data, a large portion of the female population only holds primary school degrees, a situation she described as thought-provoking. She noted that the representation of women in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM) is approximately 18%, with even lower rates in local governments.

Regarding violence against women, Moroğlu highlighted the tragic statistics of 2022, where 294 women were killed by men and 297 deaths were recorded as suspicious.

"Violence is a learned behavior; therefore, it can be prevented," Moroğlu asserted, emphasizing the importance of the Istanbul Convention. She expressed her regret over Turkey's withdrawal from the convention in 2021, recalling that Turkey was one of the first countries to sign it.

At the end of the session, Beşiktaş Deputy Mayor Diğdem Çiçek presented Moroğlu with a plaque and flowers. The event concluded with a commemorative photo session as Moroğlu signed copies of her latest book for the attendees.