WOMEN’S Rights Day on December 5 marks the anniversary of Turkish women’s political rights being recognized in 1934.
The Chair of Atatürk Society UK (ASUK) Jale Özer shared a message reflecting on the 88th year saying “We are celebrating the 88th Anniversary of a revolutionary law that granted women the right to vote and to be elected, and which was passed by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk with the aim and belief of “to place Turkish women above all nations in social and political life”.
“This great honor given to Turkish women by the Turkish Grand National Assembly on December 5, 1934, unfortunately, could not reach the point that Atatürk aimed with great hope in active politics. In 2019, when the 85th anniversary of this law was celebrated, only 598 of the 11,385 deputies. Even in 2022, female representation in the Turkish Grand National Assembly is at low levels…”
Adding “After the rights of Turkish women where give something the whole world admired at that time, and their participation in society as equal individuals, 88 years later, Turkish women are struggling to survive today. Especially in the last 18 years, when violence against women, harassment, murders and neighbourhood pressure has increased tremendously. We are at a point where the Republic is mainly targeted by silencing the society with this oppression and violence against women…
“Women of the Republic of Turkey will raise their voices against these oppressions and the increasing violence; It will take back the women’s rights, the struggle for equality and the right to life, which they have been losing, by using their constitutional rights, by organizing without fear, by raising awareness of each other, and by protecting them through their own struggles. As Kemalists of the World, we are determined to support this struggle!”