A new partnership aimed at providing legal aid to women subjected to violence was formalised between the Diyarbakır (Amed) Municipality and the Diyarbakır Bar Association on Wednesday.
The protocol, signed during a ceremony at the municipality, currently led by the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy (DEM) Party, seeks to enhance legal support and awareness efforts in combating gender-based violence in the region.
As part of the protocol, the bar association will also offer training to municipal staff, strengthening the municipality’s institutional capacity to address gender issues effectively.
Speaking before the signing, Co-Mayor Serra Bucak highlighted the increasing rates of violence against women and underscored the importance of the protocol in not only providing legal aid but also raising awareness and combating gender-based violence. “This protocol will empower our institutional structures and enhance collaboration in addressing gender-based violence,” Bucak stated.
Diyarbakır Bar Association President Nahit Eren also emphasised the significance of the agreement, noting that it represents a crucial step in the ongoing struggle for women’s rights. “The protocol, prepared with the invaluable support of the municipality, is meaningful as it focuses on combating gender-based violence, an area where we know women are disproportionately affected. We extend our thanks to the municipality for this important collaboration,” Eren said.
The protocol recognises gender-based violence as a widespread human rights violation and underscores the importance of legal and social support for survivors. It references international conventions such as CEDAW and the Istanbul Convention, reinforcing the obligation of states to take all necessary measures, including positive discrimination, to eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence.
Through this agreement, a portion of the legal aid services will be funded by the Diyarbakır Municipality. Women who have experienced violence can apply for legal support through the municipality or directly to the Diyarbakır Bar Association. The applications will be reviewed by the Bar Association’s Legal Aid Centre, which will determine eligibility based on specific criteria.
The pro-Kurdish parties in Turkey have long recognised the importance of gender equality and have implemented comprehensive policies in their municipalities to support and empower women.
These initiatives included establishing women’s centres, co-mayoral positions to ensure equal representation, and various programs aimed at tackling gender-based violence and promoting women’s rights. However, these progressive measures faced significant setbacks when the Turkish government appointed trustees to replace elected mayors in Kurdish-majority municipalities. These trustees systematically dismantled gender-focused policies, closed down women’s centres, and reallocated resources to facilities aligned with their ideological stance.
Following the pro-Kurdish parties’ significant victory in the 31 March local elections, they swiftly reinstated these vital policies, reaffirming their commitment to gender equality and restoring the institutions uprooted by the government-appointed trustees.
