Turkish minister addresses violence against women at UN

Turkish Family and Social Affairs Minister Fatma Betül Sayan Kaya late on Monday stressed the importance of tackling the issue of violence against women in a speech at the UN 62nd session of the Commission in New York.

"The gleam of every raising civilization has been primarily women. Because, women are the assurance for the environment of love, compassion and tolerance," Sayan Kaya said in a round table meeting with other delegates of the member countries.

"For us, the rural women are the representatives of this environment in tradition and [...] treasures to be protected," she added.

Sayan Kaya noted that violence against women was a great obstacle to female empowerment.

Describing the violence as a "problematic issue that pushes women into poverty and to lower standards of life," she noted that Turkey had established special units focusing on women and children who were exposed to violence in rural areas.

"Thus, we made sure that more women report the violence they were exposed to and increase their access to judicial mechanisms," she continued, adding that her ministry also provides guidance for victims of violence by providing shelter as well as socio-economic, psychological and legal support.

She also put forth the set of regulations called "the Strategy Paper and Action Plan" on female empowerment for the 2018-2023 period in the areas of education, health, economy, participation in decision-making mechanisms and media.

"We have aimed to ensure equal rights for women, [as well as] opportunities and facilities," she added.

Sayan Kaya also met her Australian and French counterparts, Kelly O'Dwyer and Marlene Schiappa.

She will also be attending a panel organized by the Turkish American Businessman Association (MUSIAD USA) and the Women and Democracy Association (KADEM) on the subject of "Women empowerment and Economic Development" on Tuesday.