Gender Equality MARCH 2020 Gender Equality | Page 2

Equality in Turkey
The background of gender equality policies in Turkey is constituted by the Republican reforms.
Having a long history in Turkey, the legislative framework of gender equality has expanded in recent
years and government policies aiming at strengthening the role of women in the society have
become more widespread. In this respect, considerable arrangements have been made particularly
in the Constitution, which has the highest level in hierarchy of norms, and in fundamental laws.
Through the comprehensive amendments made in the Constitution in 2001 and 2004, the
Constitutional principle of equality between women and men has been strengthened. After the
amendments made in the Constitution, the first and the most important step has been the adoption
of the New Turkish Civil Code, giving place to reformative arrangements, on 1 January 2002. The
reconstituted Code has reached a new manner that pursues equality between women and men,
puts an end to gender discrimination, makes women equal to men in the family and society and
respects women’s labour.
The Labour Law, which is also among the fundamental laws, has been reconsidered having regard to
implementations that includes discrimination against women. In this regard, no discrimination
including sex discrimination is permitted in employer-employee relations considering fundamental
human rights (10 June 2003). One of the fundamental laws which has been revised is The New
Turkish Criminal Code. With the amendments made in this law contemporary arrangements have
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