Diyarbakır Metropolitan Municipality and district municipalities’ Women’s Policies Directorates launched an awareness campaign in response to the recent increase in femicides, starting at Koşuyolu Park.

The Department of Women and Family Services, together with the Women’s Policies Directorates of the district municipalities, gathered in Bağlar district’s Koşuyolu Park to raise social awareness against femicides and violence against women.

At the event area, Diyarbakır Women’s Issues Research and Application Centre (DİKASUM), operating under the Metropolitan Municipality, along with the district municipalities, set up stands. A video screening was shown providing the contact details of centres where women subjected to violence can seek support.

Speaking about the awareness initiative, which brought together many women, Head of the Department of Women and Family Services, Özden Gürbüz Sümer, noted that they were there as part of the “Our Word is Not Over – We Will Stop Violence Together” campaign on 25 November.

‘We tried to carry this campaign to both urban and rural neighbourhoods’

Emphasising their joint efforts with the district municipalities, Sümer said:

“Today, in fact, we are here as part of a campaign you supported on 25 November. This campaign was ‘Our Word is Not Over – We Will Stop Violence Together.’ Since 25 November, both as the Metropolitan Municipality and district municipalities, and as colleagues working in the women’s field, in the area of combating violence, we have tried to carry out this campaign in both central and rural neighbourhoods.”

‘We Are Faced with the Reality of Increasing Violence’

Following the murder of four women and the suspicious death of another in Diyarbakır within the past month, Sümer stressed that the issue should now be placed on the agenda of the whole city, not just women:

“At this point, we are faced with the reality of increasing violence. At a time when all forms of violence against women continue to escalate, especially with the killing of four women in our city over the past month and the suspicious death of another, we thought that this issue should no longer be the concern of women alone but must be put on the agenda of the whole city and all its components.”

‘We will stop violence together’

Highlighting that their efforts to put an end to violence against women were launched in Koşuyolu Park, Sümer concluded her remarks by saying:

“We will hold a series of evening events in parks. We are starting this initiative in Koşuyolu Park. First, all our counselling and solidarity centres working in the field of combating violence will set up their stands. We began here today, but as we have said, we will continue this campaign in our four central districts, as well as in our outer districts and villages. Together, we will put a stop to violence. That is why we are here. Let me repeat once again: Our Word is Not Over – We Will Stop Violence Together.”

Leaflets distributed to citizens

After the statement, women distributed leaflets in the park bearing the slogans “We Are Expanding Our Struggle Against Violence Against Women, We Rise Up Against Femicide” and “Our Word is Not Over – We Will Stop Violence Together.” While handing out the leaflets, women also informed citizens about what should be done to combat violence against women.

The awareness campaign against femicide will continue throughout the summer across the city and in parks in all districts.