Back
Dr. AYŞE ÖZGÜR ÖZSAR
UGM Women's Leadership Development Committee Chairman, Chief Chemist
For Türkiye to reach the level of contemporary civilization and take its place among the developed countries of the world, the women of the Republic of Turkey will unite in "implementing gender equality," "leveraging the power of women in economic and social life," and "contributing to women's entrepreneurship and employment."
For Türkiye to reach the level of contemporary civilization and take its place among the developed countries of the world, the women of the Republic of Turkey will unite in "implementing gender equality," "leveraging the power of women in economic and social life," and "contributing to women's entrepreneurship and employment."
International Working Women's Day was accepted by the United Nations (UN) General Assembly on December 16, 1977, and it was decided that every March 8 would be commemorated as "International Women's Day".
This is a history of human rights struggles. In continuing the struggle process that started with "advocacy for women's rights," the aim was to "eliminate gender-based discrimination."
In all international human rights agreements, "gender-based discrimination in exercising rights and freedoms" is prohibited. The 1979 UN resolution, the "Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women," and "all forms of sexist discrimination" that prevent the recognition, exercise, and enjoyment of women's "civil, political, economic, social and/or cultural rights and freedoms based on equality between men and women," deprivation, or restriction are prohibited.
"WOMEN AND MEN HAVE EQUAL RIGHTS"
The first paragraph of the 10th article of the Constitution of the Republic of Turkey guarantees that everyone is equal before the law. According to the 2nd paragraph of the relevant article, "Women and men have equal rights. The state is responsible for ensuring that this equality is realized. "Measures to be taken for this purpose cannot be interpreted as contrary to the principle of equality." Article 3 of the Turkish Human Rights and Equality Institution Law No. 6701 emphasizes that everyone is equal in benefiting from legally recognized rights and freedoms, and discrimination based on gender is prohibited.
THE STRUGGLE BEGINS IN THE USA IN THE 19TH CENTURY…
The history of Working Women's Day goes back a long way. The fight for women to have equal rights with men began on March 8, 1857, when approximately 40 thousand female workers working in a textile factory in New York, United States of America (USA) "protested their low wages, long working hours and inhumane working conditions and demanded more." It started with a strike "to work under good conditions."
During these strikes, female workers who were attacked by the police and locked in the factory were unable to escape from the massive fire that broke out there, resulting in a complete massacre. One hundred twenty of the women die while seeking their rights. More than 10 thousand people attend the funeral. The bitter screams of women who were trapped in the flames just because they were seeking their rights light the torch of resistance today. Every year on March 8, the women workers who were murdered in this incident are commemorated.
Fifty-two years after these events (1910), World War II was held in Copenhagen, Denmark. At the Socialist International Meeting, Clara Zetkin suggested celebrating the "struggle for women's rights and unity of women," which started in 1857, as "Women's Day" every year.
THE FIRST INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S YEAR WAS IN 1975…
In the struggle for women's rights, "International Women's Year" was celebrated for the first time in 1975. Within the scope of these events, the United Nations is starting to celebrate March 8 as "International Women's Day." At the United Nations General Assembly in 1977, March 8 was accepted as "Women's Rights, International Peace Day". The justification for this acceptance is "the need for women to be equal and to enable them to develop themselves to maintain world peace, social development, and the exercise of fundamental human rights." It is stated that world peace will be strengthened by giving equal rights to women.
International Women's Day has different meanings today. Now, March 8 is a special day that reminds us how we came to this day regarding women's rights. Although positive developments have been made in women's rights around the world in recent years, unfortunately, many problems related to women still need to be solved. The vast majority of the poorest and most uneducated population in the world are women. Türkiye is among the countries where women are paid less than men.
HISTORY OF THE WOMEN'S MOVEMENT IN TÜRKİYE…
The history of women's movements in our country dates back to before the Republic. Influenced by the struggles of women demanding equal rights worldwide, Turkish women have been trying to make their voices heard "for education, work, and voting rights" for more than a century.
With the establishment of the Republic, women in Türkiye were given social and political rights (such as voting and being elected) before many countries in the world. However, these rights remain legal, and the same progress has yet to be achieved in the social field. Despite all efforts, our country is far from what it should be regarding "women's literacy rate, education level, active participation in working life and political life, and health" indicators.
MARCH 8 RETAINS ITS SENSITIVITY AND IMPORTANCE
Equality between men and women in education and employment could not be realized. Women's roles in the public sphere and decision-making positions are still far from equality. Health indicators are also not at the desired level. Maternal deaths are at least ten times higher than in developed countries, and approximately 80 percent of these deaths are due to preventable causes. Gender stereotypes continue to affect women the most negatively. Unacceptable practices such as gender selection in children, violence against women, and honor killings continue. Some people's "efforts to put women in a separate mold as if they were second-class citizens" can also be added to the negative picture. March 8 International Working Women's Day maintains its original sensitivity and importance.
WE PROMISE…
As Ünsped Customs Consultancy, we were in the presence of our Atatürk, on the 100th anniversary of our Republic, who supported women, whom he emphasized that he always trusted, in "attaining equal rights with men, in acquiring knowledge and science, and on every platform" and deemed them worthy of being "lifted to the sky on his shoulders."
On the occasion of the Women's Day organization on March 8 every year, for Türkiye to reach the level of contemporary civilization and take its place among the developed countries of the world, we are committed to "implementing gender equality," "taking advantage of the power of women in economic and social life" and "contributing to women's entrepreneurship and employment." "We express once again that the women of the Republic of Türkiye will be united.
We promise to live and keep alive the values that our Great Ancestor gave us, to walk at the forefront of the path he drew, and to make the Republic of Türkiye that he entrusted to our generations last forever by passing it on to our generations.
Let's remember that sustainable development is possible for women in business!
We call out to our women and say: NEVER LET THE PAST PULL YOU DOWN AND THE FUTURE SCARE YOU.
To your daughters, TEACH them to drive, the importance of reading, the importance of working, that they do not belong to anyone, that they are not princesses, and to stand on their own feet!
We are so strong that we can embrace the world with love and compassion.
Let us love in such a way that the loved one learns to love from us.
