WAN - Stating that they defend a peaceful constitution, women's rights activist Zozan Özgökçe said: "A constitution cannot be made by marginalizing women and Kurds. We are in favor of everyone being equal despite their differences. Such a constitution is possible."

 

The constitutional amendment agenda, which AKP President Tayyip Erdoğan has been talking about for a long time, was brought to the agenda once again with the opening of the Parliament on October 1. In his opening speech to the Parliament, Erdoğan called on the parties to support the new constitution. The Free Cause Party and the Re-Welfare Party, which came to the fore by targeting women's gains in the 2023 general elections, formed an alliance with the AKP-MHP and signed the "Civil Code", "Right to Alimony" and "Law on the Protection of the Family and Prevention of Violence Against Women / No. 6284". The introduction of changes in laws that protect women's lives, such as "Law", caused women to approach the constitutional amendment cautiously. Women's organizations state that a new constitution cannot be effective without securing their rights and ensuring social peace.

 

Women's rights activist-feminist Zozan Özgökçe said that an organized struggle network should be developed against these policies carried out by the government together with anti-women's rights parties.

 

'WE DEMAND A PEACEFUL CONSTITUTION'

 

Stating that the government constantly agitates the society in order to usurp the fundamental rights of women, Özgökçe said: “The government is careful not to include the women's rights agenda with its war agenda and operations. The government, which wants to damage women's gains and rights, is implementing its plans by changing the agenda. They talked a lot about early marriage and adultery in the past.  The new constitution is currently on the agenda, and we have been expressing our demand for a civil, peaceful and inclusive constitution for years. We have always had and will always demand a humane law. That's why we need to continue resisting."

 

NEW CONSTITUTION

 

Stating that democratic, peaceful and women's liberating laws should be created, Özgökçe said: "It is possible to create a constitution that covers all peoples and within the framework of fundamental human rights. The country has now turned into a 'legal garbage dump'. However, our fundamental rights can be secured in a very simple way. One of the reasons given for the termination of the Istanbul Convention was LGBT-I rights and also the fear of the empowerment of women in the family. The Istanbul Convention was annulled because they were afraid of the statement 'Women's declaration is essential'. Therefore, when making a constitution, a constitution cannot be made by marginalizing women, Kurds, LGBT-Is and different minorities. We are in favor of everyone being equal despite their differences. Such a constitution is possible and it is necessary to ensure it."

 

'THE GOVERNMENT IS TAKING REFUGE IN THE FAMILY SYSTEM'

 

Stating that the government aims to pass new laws under the name of "protecting the family structure", Özgökçe said: "However, women, children and the elderly are subjected to violence within the family. What we demand is a happy family format where there is no violence and everyone respects each other and observes their rights. We are not in favor of the disintegration of families, but we want the concept of family to be implemented correctly. Sanctifying and eviscerating the family will get us nowhere. Currently, the family institution has been emptied. There is a bad family system that follows the line of the government. The government and its supporters should not take refuge in the concept of family."

 

'ORGANIZATION IS ESSENTIAL'

 

Stating that women should weave an organized struggle network against mentalities that want to usurp women's achievements, Özgökçe concluded her words as follows: “There are very nice and up-to-date platforms. For example, there is such a thing as digital activism. Every area should be made an area of organization. Organization should be based on different platforms and initiatives. We need to act organized even on a small issue. I think organization is important and we should hold on to it tightly. There is a structure that is getting worse every day, and we will only respond to this structure in an organized way."