TURKEY: 42% PCT OF WOMEN TARGETS OF VIOLENCE, SURVEY
(ANSAmed) - ANKARA, NOVEMBER 24 - Forty-two percent of women
in Turkey become targets of physical or sexual violence, a
staggering statistic which along with others will be the focus
of events held on the occasion of tomorrow's International Day
for the Elimination of Violence against Women.
As Today's Zaman reports quoting data by the Directorate
general on status of women, one of every four married women who
are targets of violence is injured to the point of requiring
medical attention. One of every three women who face violence
from a husband or boyfriend attempts suicide.
One in every five women, married and single, face violence
from their relatives or peeple at school or the workplace. In
recent years, some changes to the country's human rights laws
have been made as Turkey inches along it its bid to join the
European Union, but for many women who for various reasons end
up in custody or behind bars, the situation is desperate. In the
past 12 years, 74 women have been raped while in custody, and
with allegations that have not yet been proved, this number
climbs to over 300.
In the past year only 15 women have complained of sexual
abuse while in custody. There have been positive developments in
recent years regarding this topic with sexual abuse gaining
legal status as a crime, the range of the laws on rape being
expanded and the sentencing deductions for "honor" killings
and killings as part of tribal feuds abolished. (ANSAmed).
2009-11-24 12:02