WUNRN
ICAN – International Civil Society Action Network for Women’s Rights, Peace & Security
Resisting the New Conservatism: Women's campaigns for rights, peace & participation in Turkey
This publication examines current challenges of women's and civil society groups in Turkey, highlighting effective initiatives and advocacy strategies. Turkey offers significant lessons for other countries similarly struggling to maintain the momentum of democratic reform in the context of growing conservatism. The stakes are higher than ever for international actors, Turkish civil society, and women's rights groups to strategize and work together effectively
Direct Link to Full 11-Page Document:
Resisting the New Conservatism: Women’s Campaigns for
Rights, Peace & Participation in Turkey
Key Findings
* Under the Justice and Development Party, Turkey is backsliding on women’s
and human rights.
* Turkish women’s rights groups are focused on three critical issues: 1) gender-based
violence in all of its forms; 2) women’s low labor-force participation;
and 3) women’s low political participation, including in peace processes in the
Kurdish, Cyprus, and Syrian conflicts.
*The women’s movement succeeded in pushing for extensive legal reforms in
the early years of AK party control.
* Rising violence against women has failed to motivate sufficient government
action.
*Despite the growing conservatism in the country, the women’s movement
continues to be an important voice for critique and source of ideas for change.