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16 Days: Human Rights Day (Day 16)

December 10, 2015 By HKearl

Today is Human Rights Day and also the final day of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence. That’s because violence against women IS a human rights violation. Everyone should live lives from from violence.

Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 17 countries talk talk about violence against women in their country and what they will do about it.
Ministers and Deputy Ministers from 17 countries talk talk about violence against women in their country and what they will do about it.

For the last two days, I’ve had the honor to attend — and today present at — a global conference on ending violence against women (VAW) in Istanbul, Turkey, organized by UN agencies and the government of Turkey and timed to fall within the end of the 16 Days (there’s been lots of orange everywhere!).

Via UN Women’s website:

“The two-day meeting will be held 20 years after the landmark Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action – Violence against Women, was adopted by 189 countries in 1995. Turkey, being the host of the international meeting, echoes the leading role the country has played as the first government to ratify the Istanbul Convention, which sets legally binding standards to prevent violence against women and girls, protect victims and punish perpetrators.

Meeting objectives include reviewing progress and challenges since the Beijing Declaration; sharing the latest data and good practices to prevent and respond to violence against women and girls; and, importantly in light of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by world leaders in September 2015, to get fresh political commitments from Governments to end violence against women.”

UN estimates 300 people from around 70 countries attended. Ministers and deputy ministers of 17 countries attended and made statements of commitment to ending VAW.  We heard from the Prime Minister of Turkey yesterday and tonight at the closing reception, we heard from the mayor of Istanbul.

I took a lot of notes and will write about the highlights during my long flight home tomorrow. In the meantime, here is a UN write-up about the first day, yesterday, which includes this message:

Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women
Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women

“Violence against women and girls remains one of the most widespread and tolerated violations of human rights – but it is not inevitable, and we can prevent it. We are here today to say that this is enough. Now is the moment for coherently executed, decisive action to eliminate violence against women and girls for good,” said Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, at the opening session.

This evening at the closing reception, she said, “In the 19th century, the world abolished slavery. In the 20th century, we ended colonialism. Now, in the 21st century, we will end violence against women. It is an idea whose time has come.”

Yes, it has!

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Filed Under: 16 days, Events Tagged With: human rights day, Istanbul, turkey, United Nations, violence against women

Stab Street Harassers with Purple Needles

October 19, 2011 By HKearl

Via SES Türkiye:

“One of the most famous campaigns against street harassment in Istanbul began in the early 1980s. It was the “Purple Needle” campaign, so-called because campaigners handed out needles with purple ribbons to women on the streets. The needles were used to stab attackers.

‘According to reports, street harassment went down substantially during the campaign,’ Lyn Kocher said.”

Wow!! I’m not sure if that would work anymore today without repercussions, but I’m glad it worked back then! It reminds me how women in the USA used to poke men who groped them on public transportation with their hatpins back when women used to wear hats with hatpins! Unreal what women have to do to try to stop harassers since too often a, “No thanks,” or, “Stop!,” or “Go away” isn’t sufficient.

The article the excerpt is from highlights the problem of street harassment today:

“A car begins to follow a woman on the narrow streets of Istanbul’s Beyoğlu district after a night out with the girls. She is almost home when the car stops and the two men inside ask her to join them. The woman runs to her door and enters the building quickly.

This is one of the many stories of street harassment in Istanbul, which has become a regular part of life for many women.

“Istanbul is unfortunately a city where street harassment is a part of daily life. This is not a new problem, and is largely linked to the population hike in Turkey’s recent history,” Istanbul resident Gaye Sevengil, 31, told SES Türkiye.

Beril Ozutopcu, 44, agrees. “On the street where I live, it is less common, but in the neighbourhood I work in I am harassed almost everyday.”

This year a Hollaback website launched in Istanbul, Turkey, and instead of passing out needles, they’re working to combat the problem using the internet.

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Filed Under: News stories Tagged With: hollaback istanbul, Istanbul, purple needle

Crotch grabber in Istanbul

March 20, 2011 By Contributor

I was with my Norwegian colleagues on the streets in Istanbul while we were waiting to get on a boat. I found a nut vender by the side of the street and went over to check out what he was selling. As I was standing there with a couple of other female colleagues, a man walks by and grabs my cooch from behind. It was so strange and quick, I thought it might have been an accident, so I just ignored it. But then, the same man walks by a second time and grabs me in the same spot! I was so stunned! I felt so helpless!

– Kiersten

Location: Istanbul, Turkey

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.

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Filed Under: Stories, street harassment Tagged With: Istanbul, sexual assault, sexual harassment, street harassment

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