Today we commemorate the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. We mourn the victims. We honor the activists who work to end all forms of violence against women of all ages.
IAW wishes to call on all UN member states to ratify the Convention on Preventing and Combating Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence, called the Istanbul Convention, and to implement it without delay and restrictions; to fully implement the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) without reservations and General Recommendations of the CEDAW Committee related to violence against women.
A life free of violence is a Human Right.
In support of the protest letter written by the Turkish Delegation in the European Women’s Lobby concerning the shut down and persecution of NGOs in Turkey, including women’s and feminist NGOs, IAW wishes to express its great concern about these actions. These NGOs are strongly needed partners in the fight to eliminate all forms of Violence Against Women. Their restless and brave volunteer work and services for the survivors of Violence Against Women is needed urgently in Turkey. Violence against Women and Gender Based Violence harm inter-generationally and to a huge extent every society, every state, communities and families, their wealth and well being.
IAW declares its solidarity with Turkish Women’s NGOs and civil society at large and calls on the Turkish authorities to allow these NGOs to continue their work. The fight against violence against women needs free media and lawyers, teachers and a vibrant civil society.
