A meaningful signature for women from Kotan

Konyaaltı Municipality has taken an important step for the Women’s Human Rights Education Program by signing a protocol with the Women’s Human Rights Association to protect women’s rights and support gender equality. Mayor Kotan stated, “We will be the voice of women who have not been able to make their voices heard.”

Konyaaltı Municipality has signed a KIH Cooperation Protocol regarding the training program organized by the Women’s Human Rights Association to support women’s empowerment on many issues such as legal rights against violence, areas of struggle against gender inequalities, and women’s participation in politics. Expressing happiness about being part of a 30-year struggle, Mayor Kotan said, “If we want a contemporary society, women must be present in every area of society.” Konyaaltı Municipality staff, who have specialized by participating in trainer training, will organize a 16-week training program within the municipality, open to all women, with the signed protocol. This program supports women’s empowerment and will provide education on various topics such as legal rights and freedoms, psychosocial resilience, politics and women.

We will be stronger

Emphasizing that women need to know their rights in their living spaces, Mayor Kotan said, “The empowerment of women in every area is a necessity not only for women but for the entire society. This step we have taken with KIH will contribute to establishing a strong foundation for gender equality in our city. With this cooperation, we have taken an important step towards empowering women at both individual and societal levels. Trainings and projects will contribute to the municipality’s pioneering role in women’s rights. We will be stronger on this path we walk with you,” he said.

Ensuring gender equality in all areas is our priority

Highlighting the importance of women knowing their rights, Mayor Kotan stated, “It is crucial for women to fight for equality at this point. This can only be achieved through rights and law. With the Republic won under the leadership of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, there were great developments in women’s rights; women gained the right to vote and be elected before European countries, but unfortunately, we are still talking about women’s murders and child murders a century later. The struggle for women’s rights has turned into a struggle for the right to live. For this reason, we, as local administrations, will put our hands under the stone. We will always fully support women, children, the elderly, the disabled, and all disadvantaged groups,” he said.

Kotan continued:

“We know that violence against women exists not only in public but also in unseen places. Our struggle is to reach women who are subjected to violence, are invisible in society, cannot make their voices heard, and want to empower themselves. This is also the reason for our involvement in this training program. A society where women and men have equal rights is a guarantee of justice and development. Therefore, ensuring gender equality in every area is our top priority.”

As women transform, society will transform as well

Stating that Konyaaltı Municipality is the first municipality to sign this protocol in Antalya, KIH Association Consultant Nigar Etizer Karacık said, “Our aim is to open up a space by accurately expressing the experiences and thinking together about solutions. We strongly believe that as women transform, society will also transform. We think that these programs will lead society to a healthier place. We have seen that local governments can reach the field more quickly, and we signed our first protocol with Konyaaltı Municipality in Antalya. We thank Konyaaltı Mayor Cem Kotan for signing this protocol by opening a space where women can receive education. He also took an important step regarding the equality unit. We are grateful to him for supporting our efforts to provide a healthy future for society; after Konyaaltı Municipality, I hope we will carry out joint work with other municipalities in Antalya.”