Statement from KA.DER on the 'International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women'
The Association for the Support of Women Candidates (KA.DER), as part of the struggle the women's movement has carried out for years and with the responsibility of being its advocate, issued a press statement on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, to make violence against women in politics visible and to create collective awareness in this area.
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The following statements were included in the press release:
The participation of women in the political sphere is not measured solely by representation rates; it is possible only with the assurance of being able to engage in politics under safe and equal conditions, free from violence. Today, in Turkey and around the world, women politicians are exposed to various forms of physical, psychological, economic, digital, and gender-based violence while performing their duties. This violence, far beyond individual experiences, is a structural problem that weakens women's presence in political processes and disrupts democratic functioning.
Women being interrupted in municipal councils, being systematically ignored in meetings, being subjected to discrediting campaigns during election periods, gender-based hate speech, and digital attacks directly threaten the permanence of women in politics. This picture not only devalues women's labor in the political sphere but also weakens the right to equal representation in the society's decision-making mechanisms.
Political parties, local governments, and all political institutions bear responsibility in the face of this problem.
To prevent violence against women in politics:
• Implementing clear, transparent, and enforceable internal party guidelines that recognize and sanction all forms of violence,
• Strengthening ethical principles and disciplinary processes that prioritize the safety of women politicians,
• Transforming the gender equality perspective into an institutional culture in local governments and party organizations,
• Ensuring the effective use of legal, technical, and protective mechanisms against digital violence,
• Increasing women's access to solidarity networks, legal support, and psycho-social counseling is a necessity.
The gains of the women's movement have grown through solidarity networks that women have woven by drawing strength from one another. Today, the struggle against violence against women in politics will only be possible through the power of women's solidarity, the determination of institutional steps, and the deepening of social awareness.
As KA.DER, our goal is not only for women to gain a place in politics but to ensure they exist strongly and permanently in an equal, free, and violence-free political sphere. In this direction, we call on all political institutions, decision-makers, and society to recognize, make visible, and take concrete steps to prevent violence against women in politics.
A democracy strengthened by women's labor is possible.
A politics that is equal, safe, and free from violence for women is possible.
KA.DER – Association for the Support of Women Candidates