A training program was organized in cooperation with Women’s Solidarity Foundation (KADAV) during the week of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women between 25 – 10 December. This training was provided interactively with the topics covering gender awareness and gender based violence. Various exercises were performed when the topics were given. Women who participated this program were allowed to share examples from their own lives, experiences and observations.
Inequality, Discrimination and Violence Relationship
The training was started with the questions about expectations and perceptions of the community on feminity and masculinity in order to bring social gender awareness for discussion. The topics that were emphasised during the training program included biological differences between girls and boys starting from the birth, names, determination of toys based on the gender, adolescence period, and how the expectations of childhood and asloscence differ from each other and reflect on the daily life. It was concluded at the end of the training program that diversities in many areas of life may turn into inequalities and discrimination. Discrimination was described as something which can not only cause violence but also constitutes a form of violence. Problems of being a woman and a refugee woman were discussed. Besides this, the forms of violence on the basis of gender were also evaluated.
How Should We Act When Exposed To Violence?
The physical, sexual, psychological and economic forms of violence were emphasised. Women came to realize as a result of the examples given based on their own life experineces that violence doesn’t always include physical abuse. Additionally, it was also emphasized that not only those from certain social groups, or certain socio-economic backgrounds but also every women can be exposed to violence which a factor affecting the lives of women all over the world. Women were informed about the necessary telephone numbers to call, institutions to consult and related law to be applied in case of exposed to any forms of violence.