Security call buttons for women ‘in use'

ANKARA

DHA Photo

The “security button” project for women, prepared under the collaboration of the Family and Social Policies Ministry, Interior Ministry, Security General Directorate and mobile phone network Avea, was revealed in a meeting held in the northwestern province of Bursa.

In a measure to fight violence against women, the project allows women facing violence to contact police.

They were initially tested in Bursa and Adana provinces, where the security button will be distributed in its first phase. The buttons will be delivered to women exposed to violence as deemed by a court. When the buttons are pressed, their location is transfered to the 155 Police Line through GPS technology, utilizing Avea SIM Cards.

Distribution to ‘abused’ women

During a press conference, Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Şahin stressed that the organization regarded fighting violence against women as their primary duty. She said the buttons would be distributed to domestic violence victims whom courts determine to follow with technological methods.

Beginning from the activation of security buttons, MOBESE security cameras belonging to Security General Directorate will start following [the women]. Voice communication and texting alternatives will be available in buttons, she said.

According to the results of practices in Bursa and Adana, it will be spread to 81 provinces. There are a lot of methods such as training people, enabling intellectual transformation, and assigning police if necessary.

“Technical methods are among those. When you press that button, no police will appear beside you. But more importantly, [the project] will be deterrent and raise the woman’s self-confidence. Women will be trained on how to use these security buttons,” Şahin said.

Panic buttons will be available to women local courts order protection for, earlier said Sevim Taşdelen, press consultant of the Ministry of Family and Social Policies.

“The panic button will be disguised as jewelry, a phone or a watch,” Taşdelen had told the Hürriyet Daily News in a phone interview.

Family and Social Policies Minister Fatma Şahin’s press adviser Taşdelen said they planned to implement the project across Turkey in a year.