Ten thousand women suffered domestic violence

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ANF 19.05.2010- In the first 4 months of the year, a total of 10.282 women suffered attacks of various kind. According to the Istanbul Governorship in the first 4 months of the year, a total of 10.282 women suffered attacks of various kind.

The statistics were revealed at the meeting on domestic violence held in Istanbul. Lawyer Vildan Yirmibesoglu, president of the Istanbul Governorship Human Rights Unit, released the statistics about domestic violence collected from Istanbul Police Department.

According to the data of the governorship, there were 10.282 women under attack in the first four months of 2010. The figure shows an increase in violence against women. Violating women human rights, the speakers argued, is being considered as legitimate because of traditions and customs.

Lawyer Yirmibesoglu underlined that “domestic violence not only needs to be prevented but it muss be removed from people's lives. Offenders have to be found and punished. The punishment - added the lawyer - must be one which get offenders away from domestic violence". It was underlined as under age marriages are one of the reasons why women are often not fully aware on their own rights.

Even though there are some written laws which address domestic violence, very often they are not implemented. Lawyer Aydeniz Alisbah Tuskan, chair of Istanbul Bar Association Women Rights Centre, emphasized the reality of unawareness among women on the issue of domestic violence especially in the slums:

“Women living in poor conditions do not know what they are going to do or where they are going to go when they face domestic violence."