WORKING TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF WOMEN
IN THE TURKISH PARLIAMENT
Project name: Women in Politics
Budget: USD 120,000
Timeline: February-December 2005
What's the situation?
The Millennium Development Goal Report 2005 (MDGR) of the Government of Turkey acknowledges unequal access of women to political decision making as a shortcoming of Turkey’s democratic practice. Turkey is still far from claiming gender equality in politics, where there is a major problem of gender representation; women are grossly under-represented in political decision-making in Turkey such as women currently hold only 24 seats in the 550 member parliament. The Government’s MDG Report also recognizes that progressive legal action is necessary to enable Turkish women to have a level playing field with men in all areas of social, political and economic life and sets specific targets for women’s political empowerment under the MDG Goal 3 as increasing the proportion of seats held by women in national parliament to 94 (17%) by 2015.
What's our mission?
Tto promote women's participation in politics, in standing for elections in Turkey, as a means to deepening democratic practice, and strengthen the visibility of gender in the period leading up to the 2007 general elections in Turkey.
How are we doing this?
UNDP is supporting women’s participation in politics through providing assistance to existing and potential candidates and leaders through training and practical initiatives. UNDP is also supporting provincial presidencies of political parties in two select provinces which are Ankara and Adana to establish Women Support Units.
Who are our partners?
Our main partner in this project is Association of Supporting and Training Women Candidates (KA-DER). UNDP also partners with the broader community of women’s activists including the women’s branches of lead political parties.
How will Turkey benefit?
The project will play an assisting role to women candidates for the 2007 General Elections and Turkey will benefit in the long term in terms of gender equality in the area of politics through our initiations for the adoption of necessary quota systems and positive changes for women candidates at the political party laws.
CONTACT INFORMATION:
Asli Sahin
Project Assistant, UNDP
Tel: (90-312) 454 1104
E-
mail: asli.sahin@undp.org
Ilknur Ustun President,
Ankara Branch Office
Association of Supporting and Educating Women Candidates (KA-DER)
Tel: (90-312) 4678816
E
mail: ilk_3@yahoo.com
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