The Local Administrations Committee of the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party) made a statement on November 13th in Amed, saying “Our promise is not over. We will stop the violence together” and launched a year-long campaign. Amed Metropolitan Municipality held the first event of the campaign on November 14 by planting saplings in memory of the women who lost their lives.  

 

Head of Women's Policies Department of Amed Metropolitan Municipality Özden Gürbüz Sümer spoke about the campaign and the activities they will carry out within this scope. 

 

ACTIVITIES WILL CONTINUE THROUGHOUT THE YEAR 

 

Özden Gürbüz Sümer stated that as the municipality, they did not want to fit the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25 into a two-week period and said that awareness raising activities on violence will continue later. Özden Gürbüz Sümer stated that the increasing incidents of violence in the country should be transformed into a year-long campaign, not a two-week campaign, and noted that certain responsibilities have emerged against economic, psychological, digital and physical violence. Özden Gürbüz Sümer added that the most important directorates and units within the municipality are the directorates and units for combating violence and emphasized that they aim to make these directorates and units active.

 

A CITY SENSITIVE TO GENDER EQUALITY

 

Özden Gürbüz Sümer said that there have been fewer mechanisms for women to apply against violence in the municipality for a long time, and stated that they will activate mechanisms such as complaint lines, shelters and counseling centers that women can apply to within the scope of the campaign. “We want this campaign to be instrumental and pioneering in terms of rebuilding a city sensitive to gender equality together with our other departments and directorates in order to make the city safe,” she said. Özden Gürbüz Sümer said that although it is not possible to stop violence completely, they aim to raise social awareness.  

 

Sümer stated that the reason why municipalities are the executors of the campaign is to know the needs and problems of the people directly and that they will carry out studies on the field. Özden Gürbüz Sümer stated that they hear a lot of expressions such as “We are at the end of our words” regarding the violence and massacres of women and said: “In fact, we are carrying out these activities to declare that we are not at the end of our words and that we, as women, aim and intend to stop this violence. Throughout the year, we see awareness-raising activities as our responsibility in terms of municipal service, especially in combating violence or in all activities that can be done for women, and we intend to deliver this to all women in the widest possible way.”

 

CALL FOR SUPPORT FOR THE CAMPAIGN 

 

Özden Gürbüz Sümer said that they are calling not only women but also all young people, men and the elderly living in the city and added: “In the work and activities we will carry out, we demand that everyone voices the slogan 'Our promise is not over. We will stop the violence together' slogan to be voiced by everyone. We especially call on all segments living in the city of Amed to collaborate in these activities and works, and we will organize a series of programs. We expect the support of the public while carrying out joint work with both non-governmental organizations and many dynamics of the city.” 

 

MA / Rukiye Adıgüzel