Habibe Eren 

 

ISTANBUL - With a decision taken six months ago, Mor Çatı Women’s Shelter Foundation (Mor Çatı) volunteer Ezgi Çelik said that women staying in shelters will not be given social and economic support. Expressing that the decision was taken on the grounds that "they are already getting pocket money", Ezgi said: "The shelter issue is a bleeding wound for women".

 

Shelters are defined as places where women who are subjected to male violence can stay with their children and receive the support they need to establish an independent life free from violence. The situation of the shelters, which is one of the important mechanisms in combating violence against women, has worsened with the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention.

 

The components of the Women’s Shelters and Solidarity Centers Congress launched a "We Want Shelter" campaign on May 5th, while all these problems continue. There are 148 shelters in 81 provinces in Turkey, and the total capacity of these shelters is limited to only 3 thousand 482. Among the demands of the congress components are "the Ministry of Family and Social Services to increase the number and capacity of shelters, the municipalities to open shelters, the ministries and municipalities to open counselling/solidarity centers and to apply feminist methods in the shelters and counselling/solidarity centers to be opened".

 

Ezgi Çelik, a volunteer of the Mor Çatı Women's Shelters Foundation, spoke about the situation of the shelters.

 

‘Aid support is not provided to women staying in the shelter’

 

Drawing attention to the measures to be taken in the shelter, Ezgi said that these measures are left to the initiative of the people. Expressing that they expect the governorship, district governorship and municipalities to provide financial support for the women to emerge stronger from the shelter, Ezgi stated that when the applications were made, their requests for assistance were rejected without giving reasons. Noting that it was decided not to give social and economic support to women who stayed in the shelter six months ago, Ezgi stated that they have just learned this information. Ezgi said that support is not offered by saying: "Women are already given pocket money in shelters affiliated to ministries, these allowances are enough for them."

 

‘The instruments that we can push have been taken from us’

 

 With the decision to withdraw from the Istanbul Convention, Ezgi said: "The instruments we could push were taken away from us" and evaluated the shelter issue as a "bleeding wound" for women. Pointing out that half of the 80 million population in Turkey is women, but there are 145 shelters across Turkey, Ezgi said: "We can see how insufficient the shelters are even by considering their number. There is an article stating that the number of shelters should be higher; however, it is very difficult to implement it. Because it requires a big system to open shelters, to provide suitable conditions, to recruit various workers there. Social workers need to be equipped and have professional training. They do not want to be under this 'burden'. The existing supports are already insufficient, the mechanism that we will push and say that there are needs after the convention is withdrawn is eliminated."

 

‘When difficult conditions are bring women do not want to leave their children’

 

Emphasizing the necessity that shelters should be places where women can move away from violence and establish a safe life with their children, Ezgi said: "However, some criteria are set for shelters. For example, there is a requirement that women with boys stay in shelters, children over 12 are not accepted. When such difficult conditions are on the agenda, women do not want to leave their children. As such, they continue to remain in the violence that exists. Or there are situations where they have to go back to the perpetrator. Shelters are places where women should be empowered, but it is difficult if this is not for both women and children."

 

‘Another issue is violation of confidentiality’

 

Stating that another problem experienced in the shelters is the violation of "secrecy", Ezgi continued her words as follows: "The places of the shelters should be kept secret. As Mor Çatı, we follow a policy to ensure the security and privacy of women in the shelter. The shelters are actually their homes. Therefore, various areas are opened for them to realize such risks themselves. However, when looking at shelters in general, one of the reasons for the violation of confidentiality is due to law enforcement agencies. When the perpetrator goes to the police to search for his wife, spouse or partner, the police can point to the location of the shelters. As such, privacy may have disappeared."

 

‘Shelters should be in more central places, not isolated’

 

Drawing attention to the fact that shelters should be places where feminist perspective prevails and feminist methods are developed, Ezgi said: "There should be areas where women can leave without being judged and discriminated. There is a need for social studies where they can put forward their goals. There is a need for legal, social, and psychological support. There must be areas where these can be provided. It seems to society that the shelters should be in isolation, out of sight. The conditions of many women shelters are like that, women are taken away from their phones. There is a time limit for getting out of the shelter. Women should be able to work and get involved in life. Therefore, shelters should be in more central places, accessible places for women to find jobs and get things done in the public institution."