Call to action from Selahattin Demirtaş: We hear the cry of women

Former HDP Co-Chairman Selahattin Demirtaş, who was visited by CHP Chairman Özgür Özel, said in a call to action published under the title "We hear the cry of women," "Remember; women are calling out to us men, they are rebelling, they are crying out, they are struggling. Let us also sincerely confront ourselves and lend our support to the struggle of women." 

Demirtaş used the following expressions:

"This call is a call for all men, including myself, to confront our mindset.

Cases of murder, violence, rape, harassment, and threats against women have reached blood-curdling levels of brutality. For women, streets, workplaces, schools, hospitals, and even the homes they live in have turned into a living hell, and we are in a state of social anxiety.

As a man, it is difficult even to make a call on this issue because I know that I am on the side that is the perpetrator as a gender. The violence that women are subjected to is not individual, but a reflection of a social problem, and it is clear that instead of loading the struggle against this problem solely onto the shoulders of women, we men must also take responsibility.

I am calling out to all men here; let us stop for just a minute and think; let us not look for the crime and the criminal elsewhere. We are all responsible for the creation of this order and the formation of the mindset that feeds violence with our words and our actions. Let us start questioning and changing from ourselves. We men are not born this savage, barbaric, and cruel. We created the male-dominated mindset step by step, and we caused this cycle of violence to be established. Therefore, the responsibility to provide an opportunity to build an equal, fair, and safe life also lies with us.

To find a permanent solution, the responsibility of men in this regard is not just to remain silent, but both to engage in self-criticism and to support demands aimed at transforming the system. However, this support should be given by standing by them and listening, rather than using a language that tells women what to do. This text was also written to remind us of our responsibilities as a society.

Remember; women are calling out to us men, they are rebelling, they are crying out, they are struggling. Let us also sincerely confront ourselves and lend our support to the struggle of women.

This is my call to all men who do not want to be complicit in this shame, this brutality, and this barbarism; let us come and shout out loud everywhere and say, “We hear the cry of women.”

Furthermore, I am making a call to the President, first and foremost, to Mr. Özgür Özel who came to visit us today, to all political party leaders, members of parliament, members of the judiciary, bar associations, municipalities, non-governmental organizations, and the security bureaucracy: Please cooperate for urgent and effective measures, and hear the rebellion and legitimate demands of women. Let us start by changing the male-dominated language, model, policies, and practices in politics.

If we want to build social peace, let us start here first. Because peace cannot be achieved until freedom and democracy are realized for everyone.

In this context, I would like to announce the demands and expectations of women once again, by acting as an intermediary.

Urgent Measures:

-The Istanbul Convention must be re-signed or its cancellation must be abandoned. Immediate action must be taken to implement all articles contained in the convention.

-Impunity for crimes against women must be ended. Criminal and control measures, including arrest, must be applied for crimes such as threats, insults, blackmail, and stalking.

-State institutions and administrators must take a clear stance against violence and discrimination against women and avoid statements against women.

-Threats and violence against women should not be subject to a complaint; if there is a complaint, the name and address of the complainant should be kept confidential, the investigation should be conducted on behalf of the public, and the Ministry should be a party to the investigation itself.

-Investigations into violence and murder against women should be conducted by police officers, prosecutors, and judges who receive regular training and support against violence against women.

-Threats and violence against women should be included in catalog crimes and considered grounds for arrest.

-With an application to be developed by the Ministry, women should be able to send a distress signal to all phones receiving a signal from the base station they are currently at with a single button on their phones.

-There should not be a single park or street left without street lighting.

-Security measures should be increased in parks, streets, squares, and avenues, both day and night.

-The electronic monitoring bracelet mentioned in Law No. 6284 should be applied in all high-risk cases. Medium-Term Measures:

-Women's rights and gender issues should be included in the curriculum as a compulsory subject starting from primary school.

-Employment opportunities for women should be increased, and a policy of equal pay for equal work with job security should be applied to women in all working life.

-The number of shelters should be increased, and importance and priority should be given to policies for empowering women in shelters.

-A 24/7 free "Violence Hotline" that everyone can reach and that provides service in every language should be established.

-Widespread public training, panels, open sessions, and conferences should be organized in all provinces and districts to increase the awareness of men. Free space should be allocated on all billboards for one week every month for posters calling for sensitivity on this issue only.

-This issue should be addressed daily through public service announcements on private television channels and all TRT channels. The opinion of women's organizations should be taken regarding the video to be prepared.

-Scenes containing violence against women in television series should be ended.

-Sexual Assault Crisis Centers, which are also included in the Istanbul Convention, should be established in line with the demands of women's organizations.

-Coordination centers to end violence and discrimination against women, which include all women's organizations, should be established in all provinces.

-Protective and preventive measures in Law No. 6284 should be taken quickly upon the request of women, and the discussion of the law should be ended.

-Individuals convicted of violence, harassment, and rape against women should be provided with mandatory training in prison against discrimination and violence towards women.

-All of these efforts should be implemented with a common will and joint work with women's organizations and relevant non-governmental organizations, and a determined stance should be displayed side by side in the fight against violence."

News Source: 12punto