Verbatim report of proceedings

Monday, 21 May 2012 - Strasbourg

19. A 2020 perspective for women in Turkey (short presentation)

  President. – The next item is the report by Emine Bozkurt on a 2020 perspective for women in Turkey [2011/2066(INI)] (A7-0138/2012).

  Emine Bozkurt, rapporteur. – Madam President, it is a great pleasure to be presenting to you today my third report on the situation of women in Turkey, which presents a strategy towards 2020 and is inspired by the gender aspect of Europe 2020. In preparing my report, I spoke to various ministers, Members of Parliament, women’s NGOs and many others, such as young university students. Of all these meetings, the one that affected me the most was the meeting I had with Arzu, a woman who was staying in the shelter. Her story has helped me in evaluating the law on the protection of women from violence. I will come back to that.

In my report, I have made a call for zero tolerance for violence against women. The report indicates what needs to be done about violence and stresses that, without good implementation, even the best laws cannot protect women, so I put forward suggestions to ensure that the law is strictly applied. More shelters are needed. The existing shelters should be made safer, and the personnel must be better trained. There should be vocational courses offered to women in the shelters. This is important because many of the women who have been victims of violence are housewives or, like Arzu, have lost their jobs because their ex-husbands also attacked them at their places of work. Arzu was continually beaten up by her husband even after obtaining a divorce. The law which was in effect at that time did not protect victims who were not married. It must be made clear to Turkey that the law protects women, regardless of the relationship between the victim and the perpetrator.

Many positive developments are also taking place in Turkey. The Ankara Prosecutor’s Office has established a specialised bureau dealing solely with violence against women, which is very successful. We need more of these in Turkish cities and rural areas.

The gender gap in primary education has been closed, but there are worries concerning the new education reform. The new system should not jeopardise the successes achieved so far concerning the schooling of girls. The percentage of women in the labour market has risen to around 30%, but more needs to be done on issues such as child care and maternity leave to further increase this ratio. Trade union activities should also be made more accessible for women.

In my report, I ask for a new law on political parties and elections which would establish a temporary mandatory quota system ensuring the fair representation of women in electoral lists. In order to successfully make the necessary changes, a change in mentality is needed. Women are not only mothers or members of a family, they are individuals. This must be made crystal clear.

The Commission is actively engaged in improving women’s rights in Turkey. Last week, during the launch of the positive agenda, Commissioner Füle once more highlighted the importance of women’s rights within the positive agenda, as well as the importance of Chapter 23 negotiations on this subject. Indeed, in order to give the EU more leverage in the area of women’s rights, Chapter 23 negotiations should be opened. I want strongly to underline the importance of the Commission and Turkey continuing to promote women’s rights in Turkey and to place women’s rights at the heart of the accession negotiations.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone, especially the shadow rapporteurs, who have contributed to the drafting of this report.

Catch-the-eye procedure

  Elena Băsescu (PPE). – (RO) Madam President, the measures that have been adopted up to now by the Turkish authorities highlight their commitment to defending and promoting women’s rights. However, further efforts are required to implement the adopted legislation, especially in areas such as domestic violence. Setting up a specialised service within the Public Prosecutor’s Office marks a step forward to this end.

At the same time, attention needs to be focused on information and prevention measures. In this context, I welcome a special Gender Equality Commission being set up within the Ministry of Education. This proves the Turkish Government’s awareness of the need to combat the stereotypes and bring about a lasting change in mentality. Last but not least, I am pleased at the rise in the number of women in the Turkish Parliament, but I do not endorse the report’s recommendations on establishing a quota system.

  Antigoni Papadopoulou (S&D). – Madam President, Turkey, as a candidate country, is obliged to abide by the acquis communautaire. It must respect human rights, including women’s rights and gender equality. It must implement legislative reforms and empower women in social, economic and political life so as to reach the objectives of Europe 2020.

Turkey still has a long way to go. According to progress reports on Turkey for 2010 and 2011, Turkey needs to implement the existing legal framework in order to fight honour killings, forced marriages and violence against women, and to combat female illiteracy, discrimination, stereotypes and the very low female participation rate in the Turkish labour force and in political life.

We therefore call on Turkey to implement comprehensive reforms, to fulfil the Copenhagen criteria for the sake of its own modernisation, and to establish a climate of mutual understanding and respect with all EU Member States, thus making it possible to exchange best practices on gender equality with all of those States for the benefit of its own female citizens.

  Ulrike Lunacek (Verts/ALE). – Madam President, first of all, on behalf of our Green shadow rapporteur, Marije Cornelissen, who cannot be here and who asked me to speak, let me thank the rapporteur and the other shadows in the Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality for a very good report, which I think will be helpful to you, Ms Malmström, and others in the Commission in promoting women’s rights in Turkey, more than has been done up till now.

Legislation in Turkey is rather good at several levels, but implementation is lacking, especially when it comes to domestic violence against women. For example, it is still a fact that two or three women are killed every day in Turkey in the domestic area by their husbands or families. More has to be done there in order to punish the person who was the perpetrator, but also family members who silently look on and do not speak out.

One fact that also hinders women’s empowerment in Turkey is the low employment rate of women: only 24% of women are employed. That has been a fact for a number of years, so that is an area where more investment is needed. I find it very important to have a national action plan to combat violence against women. Other countries, for example Spain, have shown over the last few years what can be done; that is something that I hope can be achieved. Education for women is important. It has improved but not yet enough. I also think it would be important to open Chapter 23.

  Jaroslav Paška (EFD). – (SK) Madam President, I greatly welcome this report as the issue that is addressed here is indeed a very serious one. This is especially due to the fact that Turkey has applied to join the European Union and we should therefore monitor the rights and status of women in that country very carefully. The report is very clear and very concise, and notes that their legislation is more or less in order, but its application in real life is problematic. The passage where it says that spouses, friends and family members murder at least two women every day is, in my view, particularly shocking. Also, the application of laws on education and the participation of women in business or politics is highly informative. It says that the participation of women in such areas – both in real terms and in economic terms – is indeed very weak. I would like to focus on measures that we should pursue as the European Union and maybe also as community organisations. In particular, we should appeal to politicians to act as personal examples and to behave as is required of them. Then we should use the media, television and radio to promote women’s rights and to protect women more. And, of course, this appeal to social awareness would be reflected in the policy which is implemented in the regions and this is, I believe, the most important factor – to get this policy to the people and to the regions.

  Miroslav Mikolášik (PPE). – (SK) Madam President, Turkey has improved its legal framework for women’s rights. However, the transposition of legislation into everyday practice is not at a satisfactory level. Violence against women therefore remains one of the most pressing problems in Turkey. I consider it shocking that during their lives, 39% of women encounter physical violence, and that every day, two to three women fall victim to their husbands, other family members or friends. The employment rate of women, which is approximately 24%, is closely related to the persisting differences between men and women in secondary and higher education. The 14 percent share of women MPs in the Turkish Parliament can also be considered to be a reflection of social reality. I welcome the report on the current situation and future prospects of women in Turkey. This report has systematically assessed the legal status and reality marked by violence against women, and also the actual participation of women in the labour market and in politics.

End of the catch-the-eye procedure

  Cecilia Malmström, Member of the Commission. – Madam President, I would like to thank the rapporteur, Ms Bozkurt, for this report. It is really good and well balanced. As is rightly emphasised, the issue of women’s rights is a major challenge on Turkey’s road to the European Union and it certainly merits a special report. The unanimous voting in the committee shows the strong support received from shadow rapporteurs and others, so thank you very much, Ms Bozkurt, for your work.

As you mentioned, Commissioner Füle was in Turkey last week and he discussed women’s rights with a range of civil society representatives. Protecting women’s rights in Turkey, promoting gender equality and combating violence against women remain major challenges. The legal framework guaranteeing women’s rights and gender equality is broadly in place and has been further reinforced by the recent law to protect women and family members from violence, and the Commission agrees that this is an important step forward. But, as all of you have underlined, the legal framework is not enough: it needs to translate into political, social and economic reality for women everywhere in Turkey.

Legislation needs to be implemented consistently across the country. Further training and awareness-raising on women’s rights and gender equality are needed, particularly for the police. Of course, as was also underlined in the report, serious problems remain with so-called ‘honour’ killings (which is a horrible term because there is nothing honourable in such brutality), as well as early enforced marriages and domestic violence against women.

The report calls upon us in the Commission to make the issue of women’s rights central to the negotiations with Turkey, and it mentions in this respect progress on the negotiation chapter devoted to the judiciary and fundamental rights. As you know, the positive agenda in EU-Turkey relations, which was endorsed by the Council in December, includes the judiciary and fundamental rights among its main features. During his visit to Turkey, Commissioner Füle launched concrete work on this positive agenda. I am happy to report that he chaired the first meeting of the working group on judiciary and fundamental rights with Justice Minister Ergin, with the aim of fostering reforms in Turkey in this crucial area. He also had a separate meeting with the Minister on the same day to underline these issues.

Commissioner Füle told the Minister that steps need to be taken to implement the new law on violence against women and to improve the real-life situation of women in Turkey as regards political representation and access to education and employment. While we need to combat violence against women as a matter of urgency, we also need to keep a focus on all the other aspects – and that is precisely what this resolution does.

Madam President, honourable Members, we share the same concerns about women in Turkey. The issues mentioned here in the debate are indeed grave; some of the stories are compelling, and there is a lot to be done. Reforms need to be further accelerated.

As I said, Commissioner Füle met civil society representatives and they assured him that they see the European Union as a vital source of support for their cause. We have legislation guaranteeing equality; we have standards protecting women against violence; and that is why the accession process is so important with regard to reforms on vital issues such as women’s rights, and the implementation of those reforms.

We must continue to encourage the progress of reform. Our leverage and influence in Turkey will be all the more credible and all the stronger if our commitments – as outlined in 2005 when we launched the accession negotiations – remain unambiguous.

  President. – The debate is closed.

The vote will take place on Tuesday, 22 May 2012.

Written statements (Rule 149)

  Siiri Oviir (ALDE), in writing. – (ET) As an EU candidate country, Turkey is required to adhere to the Union’s values and the acquis communautaire. It is a positive development that the legislation pertaining to women’s rights has largely been enacted. Today, we are at a stage where these rights are already being implemented. It is promising that a Ministry of Family and Social Policies has been established, a Committee on Women’s Rights and Gender Equality has been created in Parliament, national action plans have been approved, etc. These are not mere words or documents: all of the ministers concerned are working together and implementing projects to enact legislation aimed at improving women’s living standards. One of the more serious problems in Turkey today is domestic violence against women. In this area, the legislation is still incomplete. It is nevertheless a positive development that social awareness in this area is continually increasing. The media, which have an invaluable role to play in changing social attitudes, have behaved responsibly. The rapporteur, Emine Bozkurt, has prepared a relevant and competent report.

  Joanna Katarzyna Skrzydlewska (PPE), in writing. – (PL) The Bozkurt report on a 2020 perspective for women in Turkey is extremely important because of the fact that the document raises fundamental issues such as combating violence against women, honour killings, the phenomenon of forced marriages and bringing an end to illiteracy among women. Of all the challenges confronting Turkey, preventing violence against women is one of the greatest.

I welcome the plans to increase the number of shelters for women and the setting up of telephone helplines. I would, however, like to point out that as well as increasing the number of temporary measures, it is also necessary to make intensified efforts to change the mentality of society. Running information campaigns, discussing subjects related to gender equality as part of school education and implementing a zero-tolerance policy towards violence against women, particularly in the case of honour killings and forced ‘honour’ suicides, are essential elements in the process of changing the status of women in Turkey.

I welcome the fact that gender-based disparities in primary education have been almost completely eliminated, as this will certainly contribute to ending the detrimental phenomenon of illiteracy among women. I would, however, like to appeal for greater attention to be paid to access to secondary education, where there are still significant differences between women and men.

  Jarosław Leszek Wałęsa (PPE), in writing. – (PL) The objective of the Europe 2020 strategy is to restore the economy to its condition before the crisis. To ensure a competitive market, it is essential that women contribute to the economy. As a European Union candidate country, Turkey is required to uphold human rights and to continue carrying out and supervising the implementation of legislative reforms. We should welcome the gradual transformation of the role of women which is taking place, but a huge amount of work needs to be done in order to make it normal for women to be active in society, the economy and politics in particular.

The greatest challenge for Turkey is to bring an end to violence against women. Data reported this year by the UN reveal that 39% of women have encountered violence at some point in their lives. Recently, however, a greater awareness of this problem has been noticeable, as is shown by the setting up of telephone helplines for victims. It is, however, essential to reorganise the system of shelters and operate a policy of zero tolerance towards violence against women. An improvement can be seen in the level of education among women, and the Ministry of Education is making efforts to eliminate sexist language and social-role stereotypes from school textbooks.

The Turkish Government has decided to tackle the very low level of employment among women, which currently stands at 30%, by implementing reforms. An example of legal changes being considered is the introduction of amendments to Turkish electoral law so that it would stipulate a mandatory minimum proportion of women in the national parliament. The proportion of female members of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey, which currently stands at 14%, would thereby be increased. These measures provide hope for an increase in the role of women in Turkish society.

  Anna Záborská (PPE), in writing. – (SK) Of course, I also fully support the call for Turkey to do more to protect women from violence. Particular attention should be paid to mothers who are most vulnerable. However, this report is more about the ideological prejudices of the rapporteur, rather than the real problems facing Turkey. For example, it is said that for children aged 0-5 years, state-run nurseries are better than the care of a loving mother (paragraph 30). Motherhood itself is said to be a gender stereotype and Turkish journalists should be trained to keep silent about women as mothers (paragraph 66). Mothers do not even belong in textbooks (paragraph 33). In the event that parents disagree with such a method of teaching, learning alternatives should be banned (paragraph 35). Women belong in factories and the fields, because a woman tractor driver is, after all, worth more than a woman who cares for her children at home (paragraph 46). Indeed – I quote – ‘ultimately, a change in mentality is required’.