[FEMM Committee, European Parliament, 22 May 2012] If Turkey wants to move forward with accession negotiations with the EU it is essential that it improves the situation of women in the country, argued MEPs in a resolution adopted on Tuesday. Last week, the European Commission launched the “positive agenda”, aimed at promoting reforms in Turkey in such fields as fundamental rights.
“Turkey as a candidate country has to ensure gender equality, since there can be no accession without women”, said Emine Bozkurt (S&D, NL), who drafted the resolution on women in Turkey, before the vote. “EU support in this area is crucial”, added the rapporteur, “as the EU has always been an important driving force behind achieving gender equality in member states and candidate countries”.
Last week, Commission launched the “positive agenda” to put the accession process of Turkey back on track, after a period of stagnation. Štefan Füle, Commissioner for Enlargement, said that women’s rights will be a key issue in the negotiations with Turkey on fundamental rights.
New legislation to fight violence and introduce quotas
The resolution argues that a first step to effectively prevent violence, protect victims and punish perpetrators is the adoption of appropriate legislation. Turkey is indeed in the process of drafting a new constitution, and women’s rights, MEPs argue, should be clearly incorporated, including rules on quotas and affirmative actions.
On the 8th of March, Turkey adopted a new law to tackle violence against women. The law is not perfect, MEPs say, but it is a good start.
Encouraging steps towards more gender equality
The situation of women in Turkey is undeniably improving: the gender gap in primary education has closed, the percentage of women in the labour market has risen to around 30%, and in the 2011 elections the number of female members of the Turkish parliament has increased from 9% to 14%.
Moreover, authorities are now more sensitive about good implementation. MEPs welcome the establishment of a new special bureau on domestic violence, within the Ankara Prosecutor Office, in charge of arresting perpetrators and enforcing protection measures for victims.
The resolution was adopted with 590 votes in favour, 28 against and 53 abstentions.
Adopted text will be available here (click on 22.05.2012)
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/plenary/en/texts-adopted.html
Watch the recording of the debate here (click on 21.05.2012)
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/wps-europarl-internet/frd/vod/research-by-date?language=en
Profile of rapporteur Emine Bozkurt
http://www.europarl.europa.eu/meps/en/28171/Emine_BOZKURT.html
