As the November 25th International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women is just days away, violence against women and massacres of women continue to increase. According to JINNEWS' October violence tally, 43 women and 6 children were murdered, 22 women and 4 children died suspiciously. According to the October report of the We Will Stop Femicide Platform (KCDP), 48 women were murdered and 31 women died suspiciously in one month. 

 

THE LANGUAGE OF LAW AND MEDIA 

 

 

Lawyer Tuba Torun evaluated the increasing massacres of women and violence. Torun emphasized that gender inequality is the source of both the massacres of women and violence. Torun stated that the articles in the law are not used effectively in terms of murder and violence.

 

Pointing out that the language of the media is also effective in increasing or decreasing violence and massacres, Torun said: “In the reporting of femicides, instead of focusing only on the superficial details of the incident, a language that educates the society and creates awareness should be used. This is the only way to support a change in mentality. Expressions that legitimize violence and portray women as weak or victimized should be avoided in the news. Care should be taken to represent women as strong, independent individuals.” 

 

Torun criticized the reporting of femicides in newspapers as “the man went insane” or the use of “jealousy” as a justification for the massacre. Stating that sexual abuse and assault issues should not be covered in detail, “For example, in the murder of Emin Bulut, we witnessed the images of the beheading. In fact, these images unfortunately affect the psychology of the society, as well as the possibility of encouraging violence. These should not be spread as much as possible” she said. 

 

CHANGE OF MINDSET 

 

Stating that the answer to the question “why” should not be sought in the news about femicides, Torun said: “The mentality of the perpetrators should be exposed, not the lives of women. What we are trying to eliminate is the issue of mentality. Therefore, this mentality must be exposed. By emphasizing the faults of the system, it should be emphasized that these murders are political. Only in this way, we can solve this problem from the root by stating that this is a deep-rooted system.”

 

SEXIST GAMES AND TV SERIES

 

Stating that TV series and movies are also at a point that encourages violence, “It is necessary to pay attention to the TV series and movies on television. Productions that show women as powerless and dependent on men can make women who are far from the public sphere feel doomed to that role. Likewise, showing men as strong and violent characters can be a method that legitimizes violence. Similarly, there are also games. There is a game called 'Game Of Sultans'. The game is a war game that appeals entirely to children. The fact that this game is a war game is a fiasco in itself. In this game, children choose a woman in the 'Harem' and shape the way she dresses and lives. It is a frighteningly sexist game. This can lead to children learning gender roles in the wrong way and normalizing violence or discrimination. Since children absorb everything they see like a sponge, there needs to be much tighter control over this kind of content. The state is primarily responsible for this. Families and the education system should also be included in this process,” Torun said. 

 

'RTÜK DOES NOT FULFILL ITS RESPONSIBILITY'

 

Torun said that the Radio and Television Supreme Council (RTÜK) does not fulfill its responsibility regarding the violence shown in TV series and movies, “Instead, RTÜK constantly interferes with opposition broadcasts seeking rights. Especially recently, we see that there are TV series depicting the Ottoman period. There, women are portrayed in a very bad role, even more than they already are. There are forms that convey the oppression of women in harems in a way that sanctifies them. In fact, we are facing a distortion of women's history,” she said. 

 

'LAWS ARE NOT IMPLEMENTED EFFECTIVELY'

 

Torun said that the state has shirked its responsibilities against violence and reminded the abrogation of the Istanbul Convention. Torun said: “However, there have also been positive developments in terms of social awareness. Women are more consciously fighting against both state violence and male violence. However, despite this, we wake up to news of femicides and violence. There seems to be progress in one part of society and a serious regression in another. Although legal arrangements have been made to protect women and prevent violence, serious deficiencies continue in practice. Law No. 6284 provides comprehensive and detailed preventive measures. However, most of these measures are not effectively implemented. The duration of restraining orders was reduced from six months to one month, and obstacles such as the need for evidence for protection orders were introduced. This creates a significant challenge for the protection of victims. Electronic handcuff applications are almost never implemented. Measures taken after a life has been lost are meaningless anyway.”

 

NOVEMBER 25TH CALL

 

Torun emphasized that November 25th is important to raise awareness against all these events. Torun continued as follows: “We must stand in solidarity for women's rights and raise the struggle against violence and discrimination. Because women's rights are also human rights and winning this struggle will directly affect the general welfare of society. As a result, the protection of women from violence will only be possible through social mentality transformation, effective implementation of legal regulations and raising awareness through tools such as media and education. This can only be achieved through the joint efforts of not only the state but also all segments of society.”