Brussels, 22/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - On gender equality, the European Parliament believes that Turkey should come into line with the EU 2020 objectives, and that women's rights should be central to negotiations on the country's accession to the EU. The rapporteur Emine Bozkurt (S&D, Germany) takes this principle as the basis for her report on women in Turkey up to 2020, which was adopted by the Parliament at its plenary session of Tuesday 22 May (590 votes in favour, 28 against and 53 abstentions).
From women's place in civil society and on the employment market to their political participation, Bozkurt analysed the situation today and listed the improvements which need to be set in place by the end of the decade, whilst recognising the progress made (in terms of schooling for girls, for example, or the creation of a specialist domestic violence service within the services of the prosecutor general of Ankara).
2020 and accession. Among the suggestions made, the Parliament calls on the country to come into line with the objectives of the EUROPE 2020 strategy. The MEPs also stressed that the accession negotiations carried out with Turkey should give a central role to the question of women's rights. The positive agenda established by the Commission to add to the negotiations should become a platform to promote gender equality; all working groups should take this into consideration.
Employment and political representation. Bozkurt also called for a “new law on the political parties and elections, which could bring in a binding quota system to ensure that women are fairly represented on the electoral lists”, she said during the debate which preceded the vote, on Monday 21 May. It is also a matter of providing work for more women; the report suggests that Turkey could establish a national action plan for this purpose.
Domestic violence. Bozkurt also pays particular attention to violence against women. Regarding this, she explained that the “report states what should be done about violence and stresses the need for its correct application”. “Even the very best of laws cannot protect women, and therefore I propose suggestions to ensure that the law is strictly applied”, she said. Honour crimes were also central to the MEPs' concerns. They recommend that Turkey take action against and punish those responsible and family members who give their blessing to this violence against women by saying nothing.
Change of mindset. Bozkurt also believes that for all these changes to become reality, “a change of mindset is needed. Women are not just mothers or family members, they are individuals. This should be as clear as crystal”, she stressed. To this end, the Parliament supported her suggestions of organising awareness campaigns, or launching a national project on women's and men's role models central to a debate, to include young people and men. The media should also be involved in this reflection. (MD/transl.fl)