Women all over the world who experience the heaviest forms of male-state violence are preparing to take to the streets on November 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. According to the data of the We Will Stop Femicide Platform, 48 women lost their lives due to male violence in October alone. 23 women were found dead in suspicious circumstances. Due to the state's failure to operate the existing mechanisms and the impunity policy that protects the perpetrators, even homes, streets and cities are no longer safe for women. 

 

As November 25th is just days away, we reached out to women in Wan. Expressing their demands for an equal, free and violence-free life, women called for the prosecution of the perpetrators and the implementation of the Istanbul Convention.

 

WOMEN ARE NOT SAFE 

 

Sevda Kaya, who lives in the city, stated that she does not feel safe in this country and said: “I am sure that I am not the only one, all women in the country are worried about their safety. As women, we want the necessary measures to be taken. Dozens of women were murdered in the past because of the measures not taken. Today, at least 4 women are murdered every day. Dozens of women are murdered every day under the name of 'suicide'. Today, if I do not feel safe in the place where I was born and raised, if I walk on the street with fear, this is a big problem. Therefore, we demand that the competent authorities solve these problems as soon as possible.”

 

IMPUNITY PROTECTS MEN 

 

Stating that women are subjected to not only physical but also psychological violence, “The murderer or murderers do not get the punishment they deserve. They play innocent by wearing a tie in the courtroom and unfortunately this works. They are released back out with less punishment. This should not be like this, as women, our demand is that measures are taken and the perpetrators receive the necessary punishments,” said Sevda Kaya.

 

Halime Kutlu asked women not to remain silent against violence, “Dozens of women are subjected to violence or murdered by men every day. The perpetrators receive punishments like a reward. They murder a person and the sentence they receive is between 5-10 years. This should not be like this, women murderers should be given the harshest penalties. Since there is no punishment, the murderer can commit the same act against another woman as soon as he is released from prison. Women should stand on their own feet and not be dependent on men. When a woman is dependent on a man, that man commits violence and murders her. Our only request is that the perpetrators be tried without any reduction in their sentences,” she said. 

 

RETURN TO ISTANBUL CONVENTION  

 

Dilvin Bor said that they start each new day with news of violence against women and murders and continued as follows: “Every day, when we look at television and social media, we see dozens of women either murdered or subjected to violence. Women are attacked in the streets and brutally murdered in front of their children. We are now worried about our safety and this must be prevented immediately. Nothing is being done about the perpetrators because there is no judiciary. Most murders are covered up and made to look like suicides. They should not expect anyone to believe them. Women have no more patience for these cover-up murders. Let the perpetrators not be protected and get the punishment they deserve. We want the Istanbul Convention to be implemented as soon as possible. Today, 9 out of every 10 women on the street want this convention.”

 

'HOW LONG CAN IT GO ON?'

 

Sinem Durmaz stated that the murders of women in the country are becoming horrible day by day. “How long can this go on like this?” Sinem Durmaz asked and stated the following: “So many murders of women are covered up, the perpetrators are on the loose and other women are either subjected to violence or murdered. Today, as a working woman, I have to look around me many times when I walk on the street because I am afraid and I know that I am not safe.”

 

MA / Özlem Yacan - Bilal Babat