The Law 4320 Campaign on Domestic Violence
The four women's organizations explained the reason for the campaign in a joint press release:
"Law 4230, the Family Protection Law, which provides protection to women suffering from violence without forcing them to leave their living situations, is not well-known among women and is not duly applied."
As the representatives of women's advice and solidarity centers, the members of the women's organizations, who work to inform the victims of domestic violence about the contents of Law 4320, demand that the courts and police stations apply the law effectively.
On 17 September, they will start their campaign by setting up 25 stalls in locations around İstanbul, İzmit, and Yalova provinces, organizing women's discussion groups, and visiting the offices of law enforcement bodies.
For the first four days of the campaign, which will last for six weeks, they will set up information stalls on boats that will travel the waterside in İstanbul.
According to the organizations' joint press release, from 23 September onwards, there will be women's meetings in various regions every Friday and Saturday for a period of six weeks.
Despite the law's defects and the problems with its application, they highlight this law as the only grounds for protecting the victims of domestic violence from further abuse. The goals of the campaign are explained as follows:
* To publicize the rights and possibilities the law provides to protect women and children who suffer from violence
* To demand that those who implement the law (courts, prosecutors, police stations) make sure that it is duly and appropriately applied
* To inform women of the presence of women's advice and solidarity centers and to publicize the importance of foundations connected with women's advice and solidarity centers in ensuring the rights of those who suffer from violence.
The campaign's most important aim is reinforce solidarity among women's organizations. The four women's organizations explain "the preparations, which lasted for three years, have been very fruitful from the mutual information-sharing and cooperation points of view."
The İstanbul Bar Women's Rights Application Center is also supporting this campaign and taking part in its demands. (AD/EA)
