The power of a true leader is understood by the priority they give to women and children (Ekrem İmamoğlu)

It has been exactly 7 years since I filmed our documentary YOU CAN, which I made to give courage to my sisters by saying, "If there is a woman, there is no impossible."

YOU CAN continues to trigger change in those who watch the film by showing that courage is a step taken despite fear.

However, unfortunately, since the day I filmed this documentary, the spiral of violence has reached a frightening dimension. We are living through a period of violence and cruelty unprecedented in the history of Turkey.

Cruelty acts like a wall, standing against the courage that spreads like a butterfly effect from combative women. Since the day the "Istanbul Convention," the antidote to violence, was abolished, women and children have been under great threat. As violence has changed in nature, men have turned to more brutal ways of killing women. The way İkbal and Ayşenur Halil were brutally murdered in Edirnekapı, and the way this news was presented in the media, caused many young girls to develop phobias.

The 13-year-old daughter of a bank manager friend of mine has not been able to go out alone or with her family since the day the incident occurred, out of fear that "they will cut me up too." Information is coming in that families are applying to psychiatrists because many girls, especially those in adolescence living in Istanbul, have a "fear of going out alone." Mothers and fathers are very worried. The dimension of digital violence has also increased as much as physical violence.

The statistics regarding our sisters who were brutally murdered and whose right to life was taken away are very painful.

In the last 20 years, 6 thousand women have been murdered.

The year 2024 has gone down in the history of the Republic of Turkey as the year with the highest number of femicides. Two-thirds of the murdered women were killed in their homes, the place where they should have felt the safest.

It has been recorded that 227 thousand 287 children have been victims of sexual crimes in the last 9 years.

Child abuse cases have doubled in the last 10 years.

Unfortunately, Law No. 6284 on the Protection of the Family and Prevention of Violence Against Women, which protects women from violence, is not being fully and effectively implemented. The sentences of the perpetrators are mitigated with "good conduct" and "unjust provocation" reductions.

The facts hurt;

The State of Turkey cannot protect its women and children.

The political power cannot say, "Violence against women is our country's biggest social problem!"

Because it does not see women as equal citizens of the Republic of Turkey, just like men. It does not believe in gender equality.

As such, a ray of hope for women has emerged from Istanbul.

On November 25 (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women), Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu announced that they have launched a very important action plan;

ACTION PLAN TO COMBAT VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN!

The Action Plan to Combat Violence Against Women, which contains 65 concrete actions, is essentially based on gender equality. Starting the change within the IMM first, İmamoğlu announced that they have adopted the principle of "zero tolerance for violence," that a commitment to a safe working environment has been made for all employees, both men and women, and that the number of high-level female executives in decision-making positions has been increased by 142 percent. He announced that women are being employed in job sectors where they were not present before. And the information he gave between the lines of his speech was very striking.

He announced that men who have been prosecuted or convicted under Law No. 6284 will not be hired by the municipality.

The Action Plan to Combat Violence Against Women contains 5 main headings. It is a revolutionary action plan, from eliminating the root causes of violence against women to standing by women who have been subjected to violence, from the economic empowerment of women to safe neighborhoods, safe streets, safe transportation, and structural reforms to combat violence!

The quote from İmamoğlu that I liked the most was;

"It cannot be done with police measures; we need to create a change in mentality. If we want to be successful in combating violence against women, we must make women equal to men." He said, "Whatever protects the right to life of women, we will protect it too!"

İmamoğlu's goal is to make Turkey, which ranks 129th out of 146 countries in terms of gender equality, one of the top 20 countries in the world in terms of human development and sustainable development criteria!

The IMM will very soon start implementing information campaigns to inform women about their rights in line with the full and effective implementation of Law No. 6284 on the Protection of the Family and Prevention of Violence Against Women.

It aims to provide legal information to 100 thousand women per year through purple guides in IMM Women's centers, on physical and online platforms, and to offer a safe and friendly environment to 50 thousand women in neighborhood houses...

In neighborhood houses, children will be taught equality, tolerance, and solving problems through dialogue.

Young girls will be brought together with strong female role models so that they can follow their dreams.

Training on dating violence and its risks will be provided in female student dormitories.

İmamoğlu says, "In male student dormitories, we will teach them to respect the boundaries and decisions of young girls." In addition to training on combating digital violence, self-defense workshops will be established for women to defend themselves.

Ekrem İmamoğlu announced that by starting the change under the roof of the IMM first, 94 thousand employees will be given training on combating violence against women. Every employee will be subjected to an online exam. This training will be provided to all personnel in transportation, as well as municipal police and security personnel, in a more qualified and emergency response-oriented manner.

There will be "non-violent masculinity model" campaigns, father-child training will be expanded, and training will be provided for a culture of democracy at home. 961 safe neighborhoods are being created. In terms of prioritizing child and women's safety in transportation, the intermediate stop application after 22.00 at night is continuing. The number of 163 female drivers employed in transportation will be increased even further.

İmamoğlu gave the assurance, "We are monitoring violence with our cameras at 710 points in IETT, Metro, and Metrobus stops and garages," and added;

"As the IMM, we will become a member of the United Nations' Global Initiative for Safe Cities and Safe Public Spaces for Women."

İmamoğlu's "Gender equality is the vision of the Republic.

You will never walk alone!" With these words, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality's "Action Plan to Combat Violence Against Women," which prioritizes women and children, I hope will be an inspiration to all of Turkey and all local governments.

Because what matters is to live and to let live!