19/02/2024 | Writer: Selma Koçak
While the DEM Party’s Women’s Election manifesto emphasized the fight against violence targeting LGBTI people, the party’s local election manifesto listed steps to be taken against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM party) announced its’ local election manifesto. DEM Party Co-Chairs Tülay Hatimoğulları and Tunce Bakırhan also attended the meeting held in a hotel on February 18, in Ankara.
Women’s manifesto: We are going to combat violence against LGBTI+s
The party kicked off its election campaign by unveiling the Women’s Election Manifesto. Halide Türkoğlu, the spokesperson for the Women’s Council, highlighted in the manifesto how administrations appointed by trustees have been undermining women’s rights. Additionally, the manifesto underscored the commitment to combatting violence against LGBTI+ individuals.
“We are going to combat all kinds of violence against LGBTI+s, who are being targeted due to their gender identity and sexual orientation. We will carry out multifaceted efforts to prevent male violence against women and non-binary gender identities by developing common grounds and relationships with women’s dynamics in the city through the women’s councils and committees to be established within the scope of local governments.”
Election manifesto
The co-chairs Hatimoğulları and Bakırhan unveiled DEM Party’s Election Manifesto for March 31st. Titled “Towards Free Cities with Local Democracy,” the manifesto includes a section dedicated to “Combatting Discrimination Based on Gender Identity and Sexual Orientation.” DEM Party's commitments regarding LGBTI+ rights in the local elections are outlined as follows:
•DEM Party acknowledges that it is an indispensable obligation to establish local democracy in order to facilitate the integration of all marginalized, ostracized, excluded, vulnerable, and insecure individuals into the urban fabric within the context of complementary rights to the city and the right to diversity. It advocates for a societal framework that upholds the right to diversity against exclusion, hatred, and discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.
• We will improve urban life for all oppressed and socially excluded groups in line with the principles of participation, equality, non-discrimination, and inclusivity.
• We will formulate policies aimed at enabling individuals with diverse sexual orientations and gender identities to actively participate in local politics, access healthcare, secure housing, and obtain dignified employment opportunities. Furthermore, we will strive to ensure their unrestricted and safe use of public spaces and their access to local services.
• We will reorganize municipal social support, violence prevention, healthcare, caregiving, and social service mechanisms, ensuring inclusivity for diverse sexual orientations and gender identities.
Tags: human rights, women
