Turkey's involvement in conflicts has escalated in the past year. At the same time, the political space for women's organization is shrinking and women continue to be excluded from peace processes. Civil society is now raising its voice for compliance with the UN resolution on women, peace and security throughout the country.
The conflict-ridden situation in Turkey has been raised on several occasions during the autumn. The country's far - reaching conflict with Greece has flared up again after that Turkey searched for oil and gas in Greek territories. The Nagorno-Karabakh- the conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia, Turkey has clearly backed the Azeris and promised full support for the country. Turkey also has a far-reaching conflict with it Kurdish population and has long been involved in the war in Syria.
Although Turkey has undergone one since 2000 rapid economic and social development with a strong women's movement so women still shine with their absence conflict management and peace processes.
AGENDA FOR WOMEN, PEACE AND SECURITY DEFICIENCIES
According to a article published by the organization Kvinna till Kvinna Earlier in the autumn, the current agenda for women, peace and security, so-called Resolution 1325, was missing in its design. According to the same article, it has been particularly difficult to make progress in terms of women's participation in peace processes. One of the countries that has failed in the implementation of Resolution 1325 is Turkey. According to a report published by the organization Operation 1325 Earlier this autumn, women continued to be marginalized in peace processes in the country.
TURKEY WOMEN CONTINUE TO BE EXCLUDED
The development magazine has previously wrote about the vulnerable situation of women in Turkey. With the increasingly limited political space, women's opportunities to be seen, heard and organized have decreased radically. During a webinar organized by Operation 1325 earlier this autumn, Gülseren Onanç told the Turkish organization Turkish Equality, Justice, Women Platform, that women's rights organizations have found it increasingly difficult to operate in the country.
- The conservative party AKP tries by various means to limit civil society and actors who advocate equality and women's rights, says Onanç.
According to The Kurdish Center for Human Rights up to a hundred women's rights activists were arrested and detained during the months of June and July this year.
WHAT CAN SWEDEN DO?
The Swedish organization Operation 1325 is now together with Turkish Equality, Justice, Women Platform developed recommendations on how Sweden can contribute to the implementation of Resolution 1325 in Turkey. Above all, it is emphasized that Sweden should support women's meaningful participation in peace processes and conflict management, as well as support and protect women's organizations' ability to organize. Finally, the importance of protecting and including the country's female refugees is mentioned. Member of Parliament Olle Thorell (S) agrees that Sweden must act to raise the issue.
- Sweden must always include the issue of human rights and women's rights in the discussion of other issues in Turkey. Sweden's feminist foreign policy must be at the heart of everything. This is not a "women's issue only". We men must also show that we are committed to the issue, says Thorell during Operation 1325's webinar.
Onanç also highlights the need for international support in the fight for women's rights and participation in peace processes. She ends the webinar with an invitation to Sweden:
- Help and support Turkish women's rights activists and organizations to raise their voices!
Is there something in the text that is not correct? Contact us at opinion@fuf.se