As part of the campaign “Our Voice is Not Over, We Will Stop Violence Together”, Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality organised a workshop on gender equality at the Ben û Sen Women’s Life Centre.

The Department of Women and Family Services continues its activities within the scope of the campaign “Our Voice is Not Over, We Will Stop Violence Together”. As part of the campaign, a workshop was held at the Ben û Sen Women’s Life Centre on “Gender Equality/Inequality” and “Violence Against Women and Forms of Violence”.

During the workshop, it was emphasised that biological sex is based on physical characteristics present from birth, whereas gender can change over time and manifest differently across cultures. It was also underlined that gender inequality may appear in many areas of life, such as women’s lower participation in working life and their unequal access to education and health services.

Highlighting that one of the most significant consequences of gender inequality is violence against women, the workshop discussed the definition of violence against women, its various forms, and the mechanisms for combating gender-based violence.

‘We have started discussing inequality at home too’

Women participating in the workshop also shared examples of how gender inequality restricts their lives. They stated that they had now begun to discuss inequality at home, involving all family members in household chores and setting aside part of their own earnings for their personal needs.

Emphasising that the presence of women’s solidarity centres to which they can turn against violence makes them feel they are not alone, the women also underlined the importance of having access to free legal support for their civil rights through the protocol signed between the Metropolitan Municipality and the Diyarbakır Bar Association.