17/10/2019 | Writer: Kaos GL
Turkey focus meeting of the "Life" project, carried out by Queer Cyprus and Kaos GL, has been held. The meeting discussed human trafficking and studies in this field.
Queer Cyprus Association's "LGBTI+ in Freedom from Exploitation (LIFE)" project, which is conducted with Kaos GL, has begun. Within the scope of the project, the Turkey focus group meeting was held between 1-2 October at the Aegean Palace Hotel in Izmir. The meeting, which aims at strengthening inter-organizational solidarity and transferring experiences on human trafficking, forced labor and sex work in Turkey and Cyprus, was attended by the Human Resources Development Foundation (İKGV), Women's Solidarity Foundation, Pink Life LGBTT Solidarity Association, SOS Children's Village Association, Refugee Rights Association, lawyers from bar associations in Turkey and Cyprus and independent/member activists.
On the first day of the focus group meeting, Lawyer
Fezile Özüm from Northern Cyprus spoke about human trafficking in Cyprus,
legal-political developments, the current stance of the government and
international covenants. Özüm mentioned the current constitutional situation,
regulations for nightclubs and the relevant provisions of the penal code
(156-165). Also shared their experiences on the communication of women working
in nightclubs with social life and medical examinations.
Then the project coordinator Dogan Gümüşatam
introduced the "Life Project". Mukhtar Çokar from İKGV explained
which steps been taken regarding sex work and human trafficking in the world
and Turkey, and what the İKGV is doing in these areas. Çoka pointed out the legal
regulations in this area in Turkey, developments in the field of reproductive
health and sexual health, and the Palermo Protocol.
Zehra Tosun from the Women's Solidarity Foundation
gave a presentation on the shelter they established for victims of human
trafficking and the work done in this shelter and women-based social service
practices.
The second day of the meeting started with the
presentation of Şennur Ören, who works as a social worker at The Pink Life
LGBTT Solidarity Association, regarding the current status of transgender women
in Ankara, trans sex work with its special/structural aspects, transfeminism
and Misdemeanors Law of Turkey.
After Ören's presentation, a general evaluation
meeting was held on; what can be done on human trafficking, forced labour and
sex work both in the context of Turkey and in the context of Cyprus, how the
"Life Project" will contribute to social policy efforts in Cyprus
and how participants benefited from the
experience sharing.
Within the scope of the project, social service
research methods and training on the feminist paradigm will also be held. The
project also aims to conduct self-strengthening and empowerment training, case
studies and, finally, in-depth discussions with actors working on this issue.
The Queer Cyprus Association announced in recent
months that it had begun the "LGBTI+ in Freedom from Exploitation
(LIFE)" project through funding from the European Union's Together Against
Trafficking in Human Beings Grant Program in collaboration with Kaos GL.
Accordingly, preparations for the field research,
which is the fundamental phase of the project, has started in September. The
field research will be conducted by Prof. Dr. Ozlem Cankurtaran, a professor at
Hacettepe University and a researcher feminist activist, and Ali Alp Odabaş,
graduate student of Hacettepe University Women and Social Gender Studies. The
researchers first scanned the necessary literature for the research and developed
the conceptual framework, theoretical background, methodology of the planned
research.
Translation: Yiğit E. Korkmaz
Tags: life
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