IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu and Filiz Saraç, President of the Istanbul Bar Association, signed a memorandum of understanding for women's rights, the fight against violence against women and gender inequality, and started a cooperation. At the signing ceremony, İBB President said that there is a reversal in women's rights gains. Ekrem İmamoğluHe said, “The way to end this is to change the mentality at first, and then to apply the law in the most correct way.” Criticizing the political bargaining of women's rights, İmamoğlu said, "I strongly condemn the discussion of certain fundamental rights in the form of political bargaining. Let alone such a mindset as a matter of the country, none of us would have the courage to knock on the door of our house… There is a need to ensure gender equality firmly. This turn is only possible with political change,” she said.
Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) has added a new one to its steps that open economic, social and cultural areas for women in building a fair, equal and free society. A "Legal Counseling Service Memorandum of Understanding" was signed between the IMM and the Istanbul Bar Association. IMM President Ekrem İmamoğlu and Filiz Saraç, President of the Istanbul Bar Association, signed the memorandum of understanding and implemented the cooperation. IMM Deputy Secretary General Mahir Polat and Istanbul Bar Association Board Member Bahar Ünlüer Öztürk were also present at the signing ceremony.
“Mentality MUST CHANGE, THE LAW MUST WORK CORRECTLY”
Speaking at the signing ceremony, İBB President Ekrem İmamoğluHe said that once women reach the point they deserve in society, the society will come to the place they deserve. Expressing that the way to achieve this is through equality, İmamoğlu underlined that in the 100th year of the republic, the desired level of gender equality has not been reached yet. Reminding that women in Turkey reached the right to vote before most women in the world, İmamoğlu described the point reached as going backwards. Noting that the way to end violence against women is through a collective mentality change, İmamoğlu said, “Every problem regarding women that we will solve today will be the steps for our country's transition to a more modern, democratic and egalitarian life. Violence and murder cases against women are a sad reality of our country. The way to end this is to change the mentality at first, and then to apply the law in the most correct way.
"NEEDS A CHANGE"
Noting that decisions such as leaving the Istanbul Convention weakened the fight against violence against women, İmamoğlu said, “I would like to remind you in the light of recent developments; I strongly condemn that making fundamental rights a matter of political bargaining, and especially the discussion of some fundamental rights of women in the form of a political bargain in our country in 2023. Let such a mind be a matter of the country, none of us would have the courage to even knock on the door of our house. Turkey needs a change. There is a need to ensure gender equality firmly. This turn is only possible with political change. In this sense, it is important that the upcoming calendar is evaluated especially by our women.
“OUR PURPOSE IS TO ENSURE GENDER EQUALITY LOCAL”
Stating that the agreement signed with the Istanbul Bar Association will further expand the scope of the existing cooperation, İmamoğlu said that they carry out supportive works to increase women's participation in social life under the umbrella of "İBB Women". Sharing that they offer holistic services in many topics such as health, social services, cultural events and employment, the IMM President said, “We know that if we provide holistic service and share exemplary practices with the society, this will gain a more important place in Istanbul. We also know that with the effect of this, it will spread throughout our country. Our aim here is to increase the access of women and their participation in the public sphere, to strengthen them especially in the political, economic, social and cultural fields, and to carry the gender equality in the local area to the most special points of the world.”
“FREE LEGAL ADVICE IN THREE CENTERS”
Describing the cooperation with the words "An important part of our İBB Women's vision", İmamoğlu explained the details of the agreement, "In the first place, we will provide free legal consultancy services to women in 3 İBB Women's Centers, Esenyurt, Gaziosmanpaşa and Ümraniye. Applications received through the Women's Support Line will also be directed to our centers where legal counseling is offered. Our Istanbul Bar will appoint a lawyer on duty per center and a bar association staff to be directed in case of need. We plan to expand the scope of this cooperation in the future. It is of great importance for women to be aware of their rights and to raise their legal awareness in terms of combating gender inequality.
“ISTANBUL BAR WILL PROVIDE LEGAL SUPPORT”
Speaking at the Signing Ceremony, Istanbul Bar Association President Filiz Saraç summarized the main theme of the agreement as “Learning and learning about the legal rights of women, raising awareness and providing legal support”. Stating that their legal rights will be explained to women with the cooperation, Saraç said, "He will provide legal support at the İBB Women's Centers in order to direct him to the bar association legal aid office so that a lawyer who wants to file a lawsuit and who is not in a good financial situation can be appointed."
After the speeches, IMM President signed the text with the wish “I hope we can reach the level where such needs are not present”. Ekrem İmamoğlu and Filiz Saraç, President of the Istanbul Bar Association, started their cooperation in the fight against violence against women.