Members of the BADV Şirketler Ağı gathered at the Sixth Session of the BADV Network Webinar Series with Experts 

Members of the BADV Şirketler Ağı gathered at the Sixth Session of the BADV Network Webinar Series with Experts 

Organized by the BADV Network Event Committee, the Sixth Session of the BADV Network Webinar Series with Experts, titled ‘’The Reflections of the Istanbul Convention in Turkey and the World’’, was held on July 24th. 

In its tenth year since entry into force, the panel, moderated by Chair of the TÜSİAD Gender Equality Working Group, Billur Barlın, discussed the Istanbul Convention from various perspectives with the participation of Berfu Şeker, Advocacy Coordinator of Women for Women's Human Rights, Funda Ekin, Volunteer Lawyer at Purple Roof Women's Shelter Foundation, and Aslı Karataş, Founder of Sebuka.

The webinar started with Billur Barlın’s emphasis on the importance of keeping the Istanbul Convention on the agenda in the fight for violence against women. She highlighted the significance of reviewing the steps to combat violence together once again. The first speaker of the webinar, Berfu Şeker, evaluated the process of Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention in conjunction with global developments that oppose gender equality. Later, she examined the impact of this process on efforts to combat violence against women both nationally and internationally. Şeker emphasized that despite Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention, all supporting actors, including municipalities, civil society organizations, and private companies, can continue to implement the Convention. The second speaker of the webinar, Funda Ekin, shared that Turkey's withdrawal from the Istanbul Convention is perceived as an indicator of a negative change in the fight against violence. She also pointed out that this perception is primarily reflected in the implementation of Law No. 6284. However, despite this negative outlook, she noted that the women’s movement has never ceased its efforts to ensure the effective implementation of the laws, emphasizing its crucial role in combating violence. Finally, the last speaker of the webinar, Aslı Karataş, discussed the responsibilities of the private sector regarding domestic violence, the types of support that can be provided to employees who have experienced violence, and the legal foundations for these actions.