Majority of women over 15 victims of violence in Turkey, survey shows

Nurettin Kart ANKARA

DHA Photo

A majority of women in Turkey have said they were exposed to sexual or physical violence after they turned 15 years old, according to a survey conducted by the security general directorate.

The violence against both married and single women came from men they were in a close relationship with, including their partners, their families, husband’s family, their relatives, and people from their school or workplace.

The research also revealed crucial details about the level of sexual violence against young girls, with 7 percent of women saying they were exposed to sexual violence when they were less than 15 years old.

Some 30 percent of women who have a high school or higher education level said they were exposed to either physical or sexual violence in their life.

Married women are also victims of violence in Turkey, according to the research. Some 39 percent of married women were exposed to physical violence, while 15 percent of married women were victims of sexual violence across the country. The rate of emotional violence against married women is even higher, at 44 percent.

Almost a quarter of the women surveyed said their husband or partner does not allow them to work.

Some 23 percent of women said their husband or partner forced them to quit their job or prevented them from working.