Istanbul turns orange to say no to violence against women and girls
This year Istanbul will join UN Secretary General’s global call to “Orange the World” and will turn orange to raise awareness about ending violence against women and girls. Iconic Istanbul buildings will be lit in orange to symbolize hope for a future free from violence against women and girls.Date:
Istanbul – “Violence against women is violence against humanity” – were the words of the Mayor of Istanbul, Mr. Kadir Topbaş, as he and Ms. Ingibjorg Gisladottir, UN Women Regional Director for Europe and Central Asia, Representative to Turkey, opened a breakfast gathering with the press to introduce Istanbul’s plans to turn orange during 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which runs between 25 November, the International Day to End Violence Against Women, and 10 December, Human Rights Day.
“Violence against women fuels inequalities between women and men. Violence breaks down families, socities and takes lives,” said Mr. Topbaş. “We need to change this dark reality together. This is not only the job of governments. We can end violence against women when each citizen, civil society organization, public and local administration join hands.”
Speaking at the press gathering, Ms. Gisladottir said, “I am honored to see that this symbolic and important city that connects Europe and Asia, not only physically, but also historically and culturally will be sending a strong message out to the world that the epidemic of violence against women and girls needs to end.”
Emphasizing Turkish government’s leadership in signing and ratifying the Istanbul Convention, a groundbreaking international legislation to prevent and end violence against women, Ms. Gisladottir stressed the need for its implementation. “Violence against women and girls is still a pervasive issue in Turkey. According to the Ministry of Family and Social Policies’ research on Domestic Violence against Women, 4 in every 10 women in Turkey is exposed to physical and/or sexual violence... All such violence, which impairs or nullifies the enjoyment by women and girls of their human rights and fundamental freedoms, is discrimination that must be eliminated,” said Ms. Gisladottir.
This year, The UN Secretary-General’s UNiTE to End Violence against Women Campaign invites governments, UN agencies, civil society organizations and individuals from all countries of the world to “Orange the World: End Violence Against Women and Girls” by participating in and organizing “orange events”.
Istanbul will join UN Secretary General’s global call and will turn orange to raise awareness about ending violence against women and girls. Iconic Istanbul buildings will be lit in orange to symbolize hope for a future free from violence against women and girls. The theme of the international Istanbul Marathon, which will be run on 15 November 2015 will be ending violence against women.
Mayor Kadir Topbaş also called people of Istanbul to wear orange during 16 Days of Activism. Mr. Topbaş was wearing an orange tie and Ms. Gisladottir was wearing an orange scarf at the gathering.
“As UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon says ‘There is one universal truth, applicable to all countries, cultures and communities: Violence against women is never acceptable, never excusable, and never tolerable,’” said Ms. Gisladottir. “I invite everyone to take action – to stop violence against women and join us in oranging their environments during 16 Days of Activism to bring attention to this global pandemic.”