News

Gender Equality is a prerequisite for the health of the whole society!

The pandemic process has shown that the world is healthier under the management of women. As equality is achieved, women become stronger, strengthen each other, become the pioneers of the development of the society in which they live. Interventions to mitigate the effects of the climate crisis are becoming more effective with the participation of women and girls.

”The antidote to the age of crises is the achievement of equality and the emancipation of women".

As we enter March 8th this year, in the shadow of the climate crisis, pandemic, economic depression and now war, life has become difficult and health has deteriorated in all regions where inequality is high. Women are more vulnerable to the effects of climate change than men, as they make up the majority of the world's poor and are more dependent on the natural resources that climate change threatens the most. The deepening of existing inequalities is the most important indicator of this. Authoritarianism and the rise of conservatism also remain some of the most important obstacles to women's access to resources.

The pandemic has taught the whole world that the climate crisis can neutralize all the positive gains that the world has made in the field of health care in an instant. If the irresponsible production style that caused the climate crisis is not changed and nature is not allowed to renew itself, the world community, especially women due to existing inequalities, will expect a shorter and healthier life.

All these negative developments have aggravated the problems of access to reproductive and sexual health services.

Access to birth control methods has worsened, especially for the poor, rural and slum dwellers, HIV-infected, migrant women and adolescents displaced outside or inside the country, and it is estimated that 222 million women need unmet modern birth control, and this need is greatest where the risk of maternal death is highest.

With the effect of fertility-enhancing policies put into effect in the shadow of conservatism in Turkey in recent years, "services related to the regulation of fertility, which is essentially a human right", came to a standstill after the pandemic. “Rights related to reproductive and sexual health”, which are guaranteed in the nationally approved United Nations and many other international fundamental conventions, are publicly violated in our country. Services such as counseling, contraceptive pill and condom provision, and IUD application, which should be provided free of charge in primary health care services, are not provided regularly and continuously.

Women's right to make decisions about their fertility is under serious threat.

According to a study conducted in 17 countries, including Turkey, it is estimated that maternal mortality has increased threefold due to the disease itself and the disruptions in pregnancy and infant follow-ups.

Heterosexism, homophobia, transphobia, hate speech and hate crimes against LGBTI+s are increasing day by day. LGBTI+s cannot access health services for fear of discrimination and stigma.

Today, violence against both women and different gender identities has increased, and the decision to withdraw from the “Council of Europe Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Violence Against Women and Domestic Violence”, which is one of the important pillars of protection mechanisms from violence, continues to increase this risk, as well as gender-based violence in society. Unfortunately, it has been encouraging. In the first 2 months of 2022, 67 women were killed by their husbands.

While the decrease in the fertility rate in our country, the increase in the education period of girls can be seen as developments that can increase the participation of women in the workforce, the employment rate of women aged 15 and over in Turkey in 2020 is only 26.3%. The differentiation of women's employment from men in the service sector and agriculture, low wage policy for women and glass ceiling discrimination are important indicators of gender inequality in working life.

The common point of all the events transmitted since 1857, when March 8 was the occasion of the celebration of “International Women's Day”, is that these events were marked by the struggle and resistance of women.

Against all the negative developments, women all over the world are fighting for equality, as they did centuries ago, and they continue to demand their rights.

Equality for health and the right to life is being said right now, and we are celebrating International Women's Day, a symbol of the struggle and solidarity of women for their rights.

HASUDER MARCH 8th 2022