KURDISTAN: Women's Rights Marred By Violence in The Southeast

Domestic violence is the biggest obstacle to developing women's rights in the predominantly Kurdish Southeast. A local organization in Van became a driving-force for women to stand up for their rights

The Kurdish ethnic struggle in the Southeast has hampered efforts to diminish domestic violence and improve women's rights, according to the head of a leading local organization.

The Kurdish ethnic struggle came before women's struggle in the predominantly Kurdish city of Van, said Zozan Özgökçe, founder of Van Women's Association, or VAKAD.

“When there is no conflict, women can give priority to their own life but when there is a conflict their priority is absolutely the ethnic conflict. The ethnic struggle has dominated the lives of women because their men and children have struggled against the state,” said Özgökçe. The fight against the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party, or PKK, has been ongoing for nearly two decades and claimed the lives of thousands.

She said he state policy ignoring the presence of Kurds caused many difficulties for women and their right to have direct ties with the regional authority.

The feeling of mistrust in the Kurdish community has often left the victims of incest helpless because they could not seek help from state authorities, according to Özgökçe.

“It is difficult for women to issue a complaint particularly when they are subjected to sexual abuse or domestic violence. The applications of women have decreased each time the conflict in the region refueled,” she said.

The association has mainly worked to prevent domestic violence against women, said Özgökçe.

Established in 2004, the association has helped over 6,000 women so far. An information center, a family court and a shelter were established to help women who suffer from domestic violence.

That the association is a driving-force for changes that are expected to remove gender-based discrimination is something that Özgökçe strongly believes.

“Today, women and girls have more rights than they had yesterday. Something is changing in the city. State agencies are becoming increasingly involved in women's issues,” she said.

The association is working not only in Van, but also in other nearby cities in the region, she said. “We are also working in other southeastern cities including Muş, Bitlis, Hakkari and Yüksekova. There is a human rights program once a week in these cities. Even, the health workers have benefited from this program.”

The association has set up two shelters to protect women suffering from domestic violence. But they are not enough to accommodate every victim, said Özgökçe.

“We have also provided social, medical and psychological support in our information center for women. We do not provide financing but we are helping them to find a job to work,” she said.

Another project that VAKAD undertook is a joint-project on the prevention of suicide, levels of which have increased in recent years.

“We have worked together with Heinrich Böll Stiftung and Frederic Ebert Stiftung as well as Women's World Day of Prayer-German Committee in a campaign that aims to increase awareness among 4,000 women in Van,” she said. Referring to how the association cooperates with international non-governmental organization, particularly those based in Germany.

The association still has many things to do, said Özgökçe, referring to the many obstacles facing the women of Van.

“We are working like a missionary to help women. We are trying to empower women to take a place in every field of life.”

This, however, is not an easy endeavor. “The discrimination stemming from what social roles expect from women is too entrenched. Thus, the efforts by foundations for women are not enough to change the existing framework,” she said.

Özgökçe has been targeted with anger and hate from the local community and was subjected to death threats early in her pro-woman efforts.

“The threats were particularly coming from tribal members or the fathers and husbands of women. There have been some people who raided the association's premises and threatened to kill me,” she said.

People have also accused her of weakening the structure and values of the traditional family.

“Many people called me wicked just because I criticized the notion of honor. Some have called me a fundamentalist feminist, while others have said I am the enemy of all men,” she said.

“Every resident of Van knows that women have been oppressed for years. Many believe that women's rights should be improved. The same people do not want to improve rights for their wives, or daughters,” she said.

The judiciary system fails to deter honor killings because the existing law reduces the sentences of murder when it comes to domestic reasons, she said.

“The Turkish penal code has sentenced a murderer to life in prison, but the sentence was reduced if the killer uses honor to defend himself,” she said.