02/10/2024 | Writer: Seçin Tuncel
The Foundation for Women’s Solidarity unveiled its latest Research Report on Poverty Alimony, highlighting widespread discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation in Turkey’s general policies.
This updated report follows an earlier study from 2019, focusing on the current status of alimony and its intersection with gender-based violence. It aims to contribute to ongoing discussions about poverty alimony regulations, expected to be addressed in the upcoming legislative session of the Turkish Grand National Assembly.
At the public announcement of the report, Büşra Sünetci of the Foundation for Women’s Solidarity gave the opening remarks. Lawyer Zekiye Karaca Boz then delivered a presentation emphasizing the importance of the fight for gender equality and explaining how alimony debates are shaped by government policies related to gender. She underscored the presence of significant discrimination against individuals based on their gender identity and sexual orientation. The session concluded with a presentation of the report by Ceren Akçabay.
What are the key findings of the report?
The report’s findings reveal a strong connection between divorce and alimony cases, alongside a significant rise in allegations of gender-based violence. Analysis of 155 divorce cases shows that 88.4 percent of the files contained allegations of violence, with one in four alimony cases involving a criminal investigation or prosecution. These figures clearly demonstrate the psychological, physical, and economic violence that women endure.
The report highlights that the likelihood of women benefiting from poverty alimony is closely tied to existing gender inequalities and hierarchies. Of the alimony requests, 62 percent were identified as interim alimony (welfare allowance), and 67 percent as poverty alimony, predominantly directed towards the needs of children. This underscores the broader systemic inequalities that shape women’s access to financial support.
“Judicial reforms should be planned with a gender-based perspective”
The report highlighted that legal aid in divorce and alimony cases was granted in 34 percent of cases, with 96 percent of these decisions benefiting women, reflecting their often weaker economic situation.
The report indicates that the primary reason women forgo their right to alimony is the fear of violence from their husbands. This finding illustrates how the threat of violence deters women from asserting their legal rights.
The report stressed the need for judicial reforms to be based on socio-legal data and planned with a gender-based perspective. It also called for an end to attacks on women's rights and urged effective measures to combat violence against women.
Tags: human rights, women
