Gender Equality MARCH 2020 Gender Equality | Page 17

Many of them have been institutionalized and made into programs. Violence Violence against
women is a problem faced by women all over the world. As violence against women is a violation of
women’s human rights, it also affects public health. 1980s mark the time when domestic violence
against women has entered Turkey’s agenda as a State policy. Since then, there have been very
intensive activities that are being carried out with the participation of all relevant parties within the
scope of combating domestic violence.
Bringing along a very important assurance system against violence, in 1998 the entering into force of
the Law No 4320 on the Protection of the Family has been the very first step taken forward to
ensure a healthy footing of the ongoing activities and to overcome the shortcomings in practice by
ensuring more efficient steps in combating violence.
Along with this law which defined the concept of domestic violence for the first time on legal
grounds, the police and justice mechanism is activated with the notification of third persons,
regardless 11 of the complaint of the victim, in cases where domestic violence takes place. Besides,
following the entering into force of the law, circulars for judges and prosecutors have been drafted
for ensuring its applicability. In addition, various training programs were also conducted. Moreover,
the above mentioned law has been amended in 2007 based on the needs that emerged during its
implementation. Within this framework, the definition of violence has been interpreted on a wider
ground and family members “who are married but living separately, or for whom the court has ruled
a separation or the family members who have the right to live separately” are also taken under
protection.
Besides, by incorporating the statement which reads as “the faulty partner or other family member”
an injunction is enabled not only for the partner but for all family members living under the same
roofmilitary units have been provided with the training material prepared by KSGM on gender
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