DISK Women’s Commission gathered at Beşiktaş İskele Square on Friday, March 8, 2024 and organized a press statement.
Speaking before the press statement, DISK President Arzu Çerkezoğlu said: “We call on all our sisters in all lines of work to become unionized, to become DISK members.”
♀️ DİSK Kadın Komisyonu'nun #8Mart açıklamasını @DiSK_Genel_is üyesi Zuhal Kaynak okudu:
• İstanbul Sözleşmesi ve 6284 sayılı kanun etkin bir biçimde uygulanmalıdır.
• ILO'nun 190 sayılı Şiddet ve Taciz Sözleşmesi onaylanmalıdır. pic.twitter.com/Bsc3mW7iu1— DİSK (@diskinsesi) March 8, 2024
The full text of the press statement read by Zuhal Kaynak on behalf of the DISK Women’s Commission:
WE ARE ORGANIZING TO BUILD THE SECOND CENTURY OF THE REPUBLIC AS THE CENTURY OF LABOR AND WOMEN!
We are celebrating International Working Women’s Day as we enter the centennial of the Republic, a progressive and revolutionary step towards democracy for our country and citizenship for us. The women’s struggle, which rose even before the establishment of the republic, gained a new and democratic field of struggle with the republic.
As we enter the second century of the Republic, attacks on our rights gained through struggles continue at the highest level. Violence against women is increasing day by day. The power and power relations of the patriarchal system are reproduced every day. The reactionary discourses and actions of the government increase gender inequality, discrimination and violence against women.
Today, in the centenary year of the republic, the “reform” discussions on Law No. 6284, the discussions on the amendment of the Civil Code, and the discussions on the right to alimony are being used as a way to undermine the gains women have achieved. Under the name of gender-based division of labor, housework, elderly care and childcare are placed on the shoulders of women. In addition to the burden of care, we women are also subjected to precarious and flexible forms of labor by capital. The policies of the AKP governments that pull women from the public sphere to the private sphere alienate us women from society. In the triangle of capital, state and the male-dominated system, women are sanctified by “family values” and gender inequality deepens. For this reason, the need of women for trade unions and the need of trade unions for us women is increasing day by day. We women are organizing to change this order and build a secure future.
A republic where we women, who make up half of the society, are excluded from decision-making mechanisms and society cannot be a republic. We are aware that the republic and the construction of a democratic, social and secular republic is of vital importance for us women.
We are organizing to build the second century of the Republic as the century of labor and women, and we are voicing our demands once again:
- The Istanbul Convention and Law No. 6284 should be effectively implemented.
- ILO Convention No. 190 on Violence and Harassment, which entered into force on June 25, 2021, must be ratified.
- In gender-based crimes and murders of women, practices such as sexist good behavior and provocation discounts should be abandoned.
- Discussions on the amendment of the Civil Code and the usurpation of the right to alimony must end.
- It is imperative that public policies are put in place to address domestic responsibilities, which are one of the biggest obstacles to women’s participation in the labor force and are seen as the exclusive responsibility of women. Especially public institutions and local governments should open centers such as nurseries, day care centers, sick and elderly care homes and these should be defined as a right that everyone can benefit from free of charge.
- All forms of discrimination against women in working life must be abandoned and secure and dignified jobs must be created.
- Full-time and secure employment opportunities must be created for women instead of the flexible forms of work proposed in the government’s policies to increase women’s employment.
- Equal representation in authority and decision-making mechanisms must be realized.
Long Live March 8, Long Live Women’s Solidarity!
Long Live the Organized Struggle of Women!
Long Live DISK!