Re/forming laws to secure women’s rights in Turkey: the campaign on the Penal Code
Abstract
On 26 September 2004, a draft law aimed at the reform of the Turkish Penal Code was accepted in the Turkish parliament as the result of a three-year campaign led by a platform of women’s and lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) organizations, the Women’s Platform on the Turkish Penal Code (WPTPC). The campaign secured thirty-five amendments towards recognition of women’s legal entitlement to sexual and bodily autonomy and rights.
This chapter provides a critical account of the campaign, its actors and the factors that contributed to its success. It draws on the author’s personal experience as the co-founder of the Women’s Working Group on the Penal Code (WWGPC), which initiated the campaign; and coordinator of the NGO Women for Women’s Human Rights – New Ways (WWHR – New Ways), which acted as the coordinating body throughout.
Owing to copyright restrictions, only the first 3 pages are attached, together with a link to the book at Zed Books.
Citation
Ilkkaracan, P. Re/forming laws to secure women’s rights in Turkey: the campaign on the Penal Code. In: Citizen Action and National Policy Reform: Making Change Happen. J. Gaventa and R. McGee (Eds.). Zed Books, London, UK (2010) ISBN 9781848133853 (Hardback)