ANKARA - KESK Women's General Secretary Döne Gevher Koyun stated that there is a need for council models where local needs and solutions are discussed jointly and emphasized that a democratic municipality is possible with participatory functioning.

 

Political parties, which are accelerating their work in the field for the local elections to be held on March 31 in the country, are also under the close watch of women's organizations. 

Women, who are ignored in public spaces and life, especially on the streets, closely follow the attitudes and policies of the parties during the election process. Döne Gevher Koyun, Women's General Secretary of the Confederation of Public Employees' Unions (KESK), spoke about the importance of local governments, society and solution-oriented municipalism.

 

'DEMOCRACY SCHOOL'

 

Stating that local governments are important because they are the mechanisms where the society can come into closest contact and establish one-on-one relationships, discuss their cultural, social and economic problems and produce common solutions, Koyun said that it is a mechanism that has the feature of being a "democracy school" due to the high diversity of political representation, but that the process is a democratic one. She underlined that local governments will find meaning if they are operated in the right way.

Stating that the understanding of local government in Turkey is not much different from the understanding of central government, Koyun said: "Just as monism and centralism prevail in central governments, in the 5 years that representative democracy has been implemented in local governments, municipal councils and city councils have become dysfunctional, the society and the mayor are faced with each other and A monist approach to local government that is at the mercy of mayors prevails. Although policies that will change this understanding are implemented from time to time, unfortunately, the pressure from the central government may be faced. This pressure is sometimes carried out through trustees, and sometimes administrative services are tried to be taken under control through the inspection boards and inspectors of the Special Provincial Administration other than the trustees."

 

GENDER-RELATED BUDGETING

 

Stating that the demands they frequently express, especially for nursery and secure employment in the Collective Labor Agreement (TİS) and budget processes in order to strengthen the visibility of women in society, are valid for local governments, Koyun said: "Local governments should provide support to the broad segment of the society, especially women who are disadvantaged, disabled and children. It needs to be in a place that takes into account their needs and produces policies for them. Local governments have an autonomous budget. Budget processes should be developed in a gender-related manner. 

 

COMMUNITY AND SOLUTION-FOCUSED MUNICIPALITY

 

Koyun said that local governments are one of the areas where political participation can be most easily developed and said: “In democratic processes to be initiated from the grassroots, a policy should be produced in which the voice is produced jointly in neighborhood councils, city councils and district councils, the needs of the city are determined together, the voice for the solution is established together, and considers ecological balance. Of course, among these, democratic mass organizations, unions, political parties in that city, that is, all dynamics, can have a democratic municipality with a participatory process in which their opinions will be taken."

 

WOMEN FRIENDLY CITIES

 

Stating that "women-friendly cities" are also possible from this perspective, Koyun said: "As long as it is viewed from the perspective of gender equality. One of the first colonial and fundamental contradictions is the contradiction between men and women. Since the day this contradiction existed, women have been seen as subordinate, second subjects. A women-friendly municipality is possible in a system where gender equality is the basis, where the relationship between genders is carried out in a democratic manner, where an understanding of municipality is developed and where mechanisms for this are established. Haven't political lines for this been developed from time to time? It was also developed in Turkey. Unfortunately, practices that include equal representation, zipper system and co-chairship have been constantly attacked due to the misogynist policies of the system. It became a reason for appointing a trustee. A municipality in which democratic processes are operated starting from the local level, where women's representation is at an equal level, where there is co-presidency and women's policy departments, and where problems are discussed by women's councils, will be a women-friendly municipality."

 

WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?

 

Koyun said: “The solution is a democratic society. We can overcome what exists through a process that will negate discriminatory, sexist, nationalist policies and war policies, where people will live together in peace, and where all resources will be sufficient for society. A society that is participatory, understands and listens to each other and deals with each other's problems is possible. A process can also be run with such municipalism."