Turkey marks International Women’s Day

ANKARA

The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) will create a special commission at the parliament to tackle the violence against women, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan announced on International Women’s Day.

“We are creating a new commission at the parliament. We cannot tolerate violence against women,” Erdoğan said at his AKP Women Branch’s general convention on March 8, while referring to an incident in the Black Sea province of Samsun where a woman was severely beaten by her ex-husband in front of their 5-year-old daughter.

“I have spoken to our justice minister. As you know this person is already detained,” Erdoğan said.The commission to be created at the parliament will deal with the violence against women, the president said, recalling that there were similar panels in the past.

“We cannot leave these issues to the oppositional parties,” he said. 

The AKP government will continue to give priority to the protection of the family values as the backbone of Turkish society, and will not allow any efforts to degenerate it, Erdoğan stressed, criticizing those who were trying to wipe out the importance of woman as mothers and daughters in the name of promoting women rights.

The integrity of families and communication between family members are keys for raising healthy generations, he stated.

First Lady Emine Erdoğan marked the day on Twitter, saying: "Each time a woman gets hurt, humanity itself gets hurt. In our struggle against all forms of violence, we will unite. We will continue to work to empower women in every field. I congratulate all women on March 8 International Women's Day, with the hope that it leads to new awareness."

Presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalın took to Twitter to mark the occasion, saying: "Happy March 8 International Women's Day; I wish for a world where all women are treated with dignity and equity as human beings. I kiss the
hands of the mothers of our martyrs."

Kalın added that the government would work in every legal and social field to eliminate violence against women.

Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan congratulated working women whom she said "enlighten the world with their love and affection, add value and beauty to every area their hands touch."

Justice Minister Abdulhamit Gül also saluted women, "chiefly the mothers of our heroic martyrs." He said: "It is women who knead the dough of humanity with compassion, mercy and justice, who teach people how to be human, how to remain human."

"May women forgive us. Their sacrifices have yet to receive the reward they deserve. The things that they cultivated with love were not preserved with the same care. Life could have been better if their words had more impact.

Because power and compassion are inseparable in women," said Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on social media.

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Fatih Dönmez said on Twitter: "Happy March 8 International Women's Day to all women who add energy to our energy, strength to our strength, and meaning to our lives."

Lütfi Elvan, treasury and finance minister, said: "I congratulate the jewels of our crown, our mothers, sisters and daughters, and all women, who always glorify our country, our nation and us with their sacrifice, dedication and achievements." He condemned "all kinds of violence against women and curse those who raise their hands against women."

"I congratulate and express my respect for all of our women, mothers and daughters, with whom we share life, who add goodness and beauty to the world, build our today and tomorrow with great effort and heart, and stand with us shoulder-to-shoulder in every moment of life," said Interior Minister Süleyman Soylu in a separate statement.