The Workshop on Combating Violence Against Women in the Light of the Constitutional Court Judgments held in Ankara on 6 and 7 February 2024 aimed to address the multifaceted challenges in preventing violence against women and enhancing the protection of women's human rights. Organized in collaboration with the Human Rights and Equality Institution of Türkiye (HREIT), the event brought together approximately 120 participants from various backgrounds, including representatives from Women's Issues Application and Research Centres of universities, women’s rights centers of local bars, training and projects centers of chambers of commerce, and the Directorate of Women’s Status of the Ministry of Family and Social Services.
The workshop began with opening speeches delivered by Ms. Pınar BAŞPINAR, Head of Operations of the Council of Europe Programme Office in Ankara; Prof. Muharrem KILIÇ, President of HREIT; Dr. Tuba VURAL ÇOKAL, Vice President of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Commission of Equal Opportunities for Women and Men; and Mr. Kenan Yaşar, a Member of the Turkish Constitutional Court. Each speaker emphasized the urgent need to address violence against women as both a form of discrimination and a pervasive human rights issue, necessitating comprehensive and effective policy responses.
Over the course of two days, the workshop delved into various topics, including conceptualising violence against women as a human rights violation and exploring holistic approaches to combatting it. The second day of the event provided a platform for participants to engage in discussions about the practical challenges and obstacles encountered in efforts to combat violence against women, as well as to propose potential solutions.
Overall, the workshop served as a crucial forum for fostering dialogue, sharing insights, and generating actionable strategies to tackle the complex issue of violence against women and safeguard women's rights in Türkiye.
The Joint Project on “Supporting the Effective Implementation of Turkish Constitutional Court Judgments in the Field of Fundamental Rights” is co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe. The Turkish Constitutional Court is the end beneficiary of the Project.
