Campaign against women abuse
Güncelleme Tarihi:
ISTANBUL - Stories about sexual abuse are becoming an increased feature in the Turkish press, but as readers are less shocked by the brutal realities of such incidents, less is being done to prevent the growing problem, according to a women’s platform against sexual abuse.
A group of women comprised of feminists, victims of sexual abuse and women who feel strongly toward the cause have launched a new campaign against sexual abuse toward women.
Women across Turkey are victims of sexual abuse on a daily basis but only 6 percent of those women speak up and report the crime, said group member Özlem Çolak, speaking at a press conference at GarajIstanbul yesterday. "As a group we will work to make people aware that rape is not merely an ordinary case but a savage crime that will not be tolerated. Our campaign will encourage victims to speak out and join together to create a great force that will be heard," said Çolak.
Also speaking on behalf of the group, Ayse Yüksel, another group member, highlighted that the updates to the Turkish penal code that have classed more types of sexual abuse as crimes, such as rape within wedlock are down to the work of feminists and other groups that raise awareness about different types of sexual abuse.
In addition to organizing group discussion forums for victims and other women concerned with the matter, the group will be opening centers across Turkey where victims will have the chance to talk to other victims and access to aid.