Önce Çocuklar ve Kadınlar Derneği: ‘Success stories instead of Müge Anlı content’

The Önce Çocuklar ve Kadınlar Derneği (Children and Women First Association) met with members of the press in Istanbul. Association lawyers stated, “411 women were murdered in the first 11 months of the year. Since 2002, reactionism has increased, and sects and religious communities have been placed in services that are the pillars of society. The effects of the weakening of secularism on the women's struggle are clearly visible.”

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Önce Çocuklar ve Kadınlar Derneği: ‘Success stories instead of Müge Anlı content’

Hazal Güven - 12punto.com.tr

The Önce Çocuklar ve Kadınlar Derneği, the subject of stories that unfold in courthouse corridors and on intercity roads, met with members of the press in Istanbul along with the association's lawyers to discuss the cases they followed in 2024 and the data obtained.

The meeting was attended by Önce Çocuklar ve Kadınlar Derneği President Müjde Tozbey and coordination members Hande Gündoğdu, Arzu Sena Topuz, and Bilge Çarpıcı. At the press conference held at the Nazım Hikmet Cultural Center in Kadıköy, the first speaker was Önce Çocuklar ve Kadınlar Derneği President Müjde Tozbey.

Speaking about the association's activities and the files in their possession, Tozbey said, “Between January and November, 411 women were murdered. We went to many cities. We are trying to go to others as well. We currently have more than 400 files. We have become the organization that handles the most case files in Turkey.”

‘THOSE WHO DO NOT ENFORCE EXISTING LAWS CANNOT MAKE A CONSTITUTION’

“First it was Law No. 6284, and now it is the turn of the Civil Code. If it continues like this, there will be nothing left in the name of secularism in our country,” said Tozbey, adding regarding the current constitutional amendment debates: “Those who do not enforce the law cannot make a constitution. First, existing laws must be enforced, and then we can talk about this process. While the country is in this state, we will not approve any constitutional amendment. Enforce the laws first.”

‘COME AND TRY TO GET BY ON 38 KURUŞ A DAY’

Evaluating the government's moves against the nurseries opened by CHP-run municipalities, Tozbey said, “It is stated that women's shelters should be increased in accordance with the Istanbul Convention and Law No. 6284. It mandates that nurseries and kindergartens be opened by the state based on the needs of children. The government is acting against the law.”

During the budget marathon continuing in the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (TBMM), it was noted that the annual budget of the Ministry of Family and Social Services per woman is only 139 TL. Reacting to the fact that the ministry's daily budget per woman is 38 kuruş, Müjde Tozbey said, “Take that 38 kuruş and shove it; come and try to get by on 38 kuruş a day yourselves.”

‘SUCCESS STORIES SHOULD BE HIGHLIGHTED INSTEAD OF MÜGE ANLI STORIES’

Önce Çocuklar ve Kadınlar Derneği President Müjde Tozbey also made a request to the members of the press at the meeting. Drawing attention to the erroneous language commonly used in news about crimes against women and child abuse, Tozbey stated the following:

“There are too many negative examples. This is true. However, we see these phrases in the press too often; headlines are written like ‘Acquitted again’, ‘The child's statement was not accepted again’, ‘Good conduct reduction applied again’. There is too much negative news. I know these are read. But rest assured, there are just as many positive ones as there are negative ones. The press does not show interest in this. Of course, the negatives should be mentioned. The issue of ‘Why aren't institutions in this country doing what is necessary’ should be discussed. In addition to these, I ask you to show examples of our struggle, rather than the style of crying and leaving it to God like in the Müge Anlı program. Instead of crying women, we are carrying out the struggle of women who do not bow down, who hold their heads high, and who fight. That is why we are not carrying out the struggle of women who lament as if it happens to everyone and as if it is normal, but rather the struggle of people who say ‘this is not my shame’ and fight. That is why our request from you is to talk more about success stories.”

News Source: Hazal Güven