Gender Equality MARCH 2020 Gender Equality | Page 19

• Turkish Statistical Institution – Gender Statistics Team under the Population and Demography
Group working within the remit of Department Head of Social Statistics
• Prime Ministry Southeastern Anatolia Project Regional Development Administration (GAP) –
Multi-Purpose Community Centers providing services to women living in South Eastern Anatolia
Region ,
• General Directorate of Agency for Social Services and Child Protection – Department Head of
Family, Women, and Public Services as well as the affiliated Community Centers, Family Counseling
Centers and Women Guesthouses,
• General Directorate on Family and Social Researches, and
• General Directorate on Social Assistance and Solidarity. “Local Agenda 21”, defined as the major
mechanism to actualize sustainable development at local level, carries out some programs ensuring
more efficient participation of women and youngsters in decision-making, planning and
implementation processes.
In our Country, we currently have some 40 women assemblies established within the city councils
that are structured within the scope of Local Agenda 21 in 60 cities. Besides, local administrations
provide services such as women shelters, family life centers, women’s club, vocational and art
courses and family counseling centers. Another important issue that should be emphasized under
this section is the institutional mechanisms that exist in academic level. As of today, we have
Women Problems Research and Implementation Centers in 15 universities. These centers,
composed of academicians with a background in different disciplines, dwell on issues such as
gender, social and economic status of women, health, education, and violence. In addition, 4
universities have Departments 21 of Women Studies. Such structures are valued as important
structures particularly in terms of creating human resources in the field of gender equality and in
terms of developing gender sensitivity all over the society. A relatively new and important
development which should be touched upon under institutional mechanisms section is the
Government Proposal on “the establishment of a Commission on the Equality of Opportunities”
which has been submitted to Turkish Grand National Assembly.
This proposal has been approved in relevant commissions and in the General Assembly. Part Four:
As mentioned in above relevant sections in details, there is no legal impediment standing against
gender equality in Turkey. The reform-like arrangements made particularly in recent years are
setting the legal ground for this field. However, some problems are encountered in practical
implementation of the legal rights which are ahead of the society. There are still significant
problems particularly in the enrollment of girls, participation of women in employment and
decision-making processes.
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