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“The advancement
of women and the achievement of equality between
women and men are matters of human rights and
conditions for social justice and should not be
seen in isolation as a women’s issue. They are
the only way to build a sustainable, just and
developed society. Empowerment of women and
gender equality are prerequisites for achieving
political, social, economic, cultural, and
environmental security among all peoples.”
- Beijing Platform for Action,
Fourth United Nations World
Conference on Women, Beijing, 1995, paragraph 41
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This is the basis
on which the UN in Turkey, in collaboration with
Government, parliamentarians, civil society,
media corporations and other private companies
works to advance the rights of women.
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The UNDAF focuses development
work in Turkey around three outcomes:
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Outcome 1: By
2010 strengthened individual and
institutional capacity for both democratic
and environmental governance at local and
central levels
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Outcome 2: By
2010, social and economic policies for
poverty and disparity reduction implemented
effectively and quality and basic social
services reaching vulnerable groups ensured
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Outcome 3: By
2010 a more protective environment
established for women, children including
adolescents and youth to claim and fully
enjoy their rights.
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For each of these
outcomes the UN in Turkey has specific sub-goals
related to women’s rights:
GOVERNANCE:
WOMEN'S PARTICIPATION IN LEADERSHIP
AND POLITICS
The UN in Turkey is
pursuing the following:
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Women have equal
access to local and national politics
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Women are equally
represented through seats in national parliament
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Each political
party’s gender section has an active voice in
party politics
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UNDP is working
with political parties to train female
candidates
GOVERNANCE:
STRENGTHENING CAPACITY TO PROTECT
WOMEN'S AND GIRLS’ RIGHTS
The UN in Turkey
promotes the following:
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Government
officials can articulate women’s rights and
actively protect them through legislation,
service provision and targeted interventions
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Gender is
mainstreamed into national and local budgets and
projects
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A national gender
equality law exists
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A national gender
equality body exists
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A gender-equality commission is
established in Parliament and ensures gender
mainstreaming in all legislation
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All
gender-related legislation is fully implemented
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UN Joint Gender
programme
POVERTY:
WOMEN'S AND GIRLS’ EDUCATION
In the domain of
education, the Turkey UNCT promotes the following:
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Eliminate gender
disparities in literacy rates
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Girls have equal access to
primary,
secondary, and tertiary education
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All girls
complete a full course of primary schooling
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UNICEF’s girls to
school campaign
POVERTY:
WOMEN'S AND GIRLS' HEALTH
In the domain of
health, the Turkey UNCT promotes the following:
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All women have
access to quality reproductive health services
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All women have
access to safe and effective family planning and
contraceptive methods
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All women have
access to essential obstetric care
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Women and young
girls are aware of HIV/AIDS and how to protect
themselves
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Women and men are
aware of women’s right to be protected from
violence and receive services if they become
victims of violence
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At least one
shelter exists for every 10,000 women to provide
refuge from domestic violence
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Shelters exist to
provide refuge for victims of trafficking
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Victims of
violence, including domestic violence and
trafficking in women and children, have access
to
legal advice and effective legal
redress
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UNFPA, UNICEF and IOM
POVERTY:
WOMEN'S ECONOMIC ADVANCEMENT
Specifically, the
Turkey UNCT promotes the following:
-
Women are able to control their
own earnings
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Women have equal access to wage
employment in the nonagricultural sector
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Women have equal
access to management positions
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Women are equally
represented in the workforce at all levels
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Women are free
from violence in the workplace and sexual
exploitation
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ILO, UNIDO and
UNDP
RIGHTS:
ADVOCATING FOR THE PROTECTION OF
WOMEN AND GIRLS ’RIGHTS
Specifically, the
Turkey UNCT promotes the following:
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Government
officials are aware of the importance of gender
equality and women’s rights
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Women and girls
are aware of their rights
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Men are aware of
women and girls’ rights
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Duty bearers are
aware of their obligation to protect women and
girls from violence and provide services to
victims of violence, including domestic violence
and trafficking
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Government, civil
society organizations and private sector
companies engage in and actively cooperate to
promote gender equality and protect women and
girls’ rights
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UNFPA, ILO,
UNICEF, IOM, UNHCR and UNDP
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All these
elements are addressed in the programme that we
are launching today with the MOI and KA-DER.
Together we will take these challenges to the
local level and demonstrate at women’s and girls
lives can be improved through collaborative
action.
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Special thanks to
Undersecretary of MOI – Mr. Şahabettin Hurput
for his personal support to the
Joint UN Programme as well as the team in the
Center for Research and Studies.
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Special thanks to Ilknur Űstűn,
Head of Ankara branch of KA-DER
and her team for their strong commitment to
women’s rights and NGO capacity building
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Special thanks to Sweden, UK,
Switzerland, Norway, Denmark and Canada
for contributions
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Appeal to private
sector for Funding!!
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