Directorate General on the Status and Problems of Women

Mesrutiyet Cad. No: 19 - 00650 Bakanliklar - ANKARA

Tel: 0312 419 2979 - Faks: 0312 418 4917

PREFACE

FOREWORD

GENERAL OVERVIEW
NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF WOMEN’S INTEGRATION IN DEVELOPMENT
EDUCATION PROGRAMS
RESEARCH PROJECTS
PILOT PROJECTS
STATISTICS / PUBLICATION ACTIVITIES
GOALS FOR THE FUTURE

PREFACE

Women have participated at all levels and fields of production for centuries. Their share of development benefits, however, has never been commensurate with their contributions. Furthermore, women make up the largest societal group affected by the negative impacts of poverty worldwide.

"The National Programme for the Enhancement of Women's Integration in Development", launched in 1993 by the Directorate General on the Status and Problems of Women (DGSPW), and financed jointly by the Government of Turkey and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), takes this referred disparity between women's contribution to productivity and their share of developmental benefits as its starting point. It has, therefore, supported many initiatives in this regards, particularly those efforts at developing national policies for women's integration in development processes.

The program aims at strengthening the institutional capacities of national machinery for women - DGSPW. It is directed towards supporting voluntary and civil organizations' efforts in promoting women's participation in development processes.

As such, the program has realized major objectives in enhancing women's participation in development and supporting policy formulation in this regard:

1. The program was instrumental in expediting the establishment of a department for Women's Statistics and Social Data at the State Institute of Statistics by providing the relevant equipment and training for the compilation of gender disaggregated data, for sound policy development for women.
2. In support of the same objective, the program commissioned 17 research projects, serving to widen the knowledge base in this field. Several of the research findings were published and made available to users at the Documentation Center of the DGSPW.
3. Income generation activities for women in rural areas have been supported through 12 pilot project implementations, covering a wide spectrum of activities ranging from training in textiles to toy productions, and from small-scale husbandry to hothouse cultivation.
4. Training programs aiming at enhancing women's exercise of their legal rights in daily life have been conducted.
5. Courses have been in organized to support women in labor syndicates and political parties overcome day to day problems.
6. A multiplicity of training activities, seminars and workshops have been held, targeting the police, court officials, social workers and other civil servants who are in close contact with women in difficult circumstances.
7. The Middle East Technical University Women's Studies degree program was established. Support was given to strengthening women's centers, notably at the Ankara and Istanbul Universities.
8. The program ensured the participation of up to 40 professionals in international training programs and meetings with a view to creating a qualified human resource base to work in the fields of women's problems.

The program objectives were revisited once more in 1999, placing further emphasis on strengthening the national machinery for women, and confirming support for pilot income generation project for rural women. At the same time, efforts were geared towards the implementation and monitoring of the National Action Plan prepared in follow up to the commitments made by Turkey at the Fourth World Conference for Women.

For civil society organizations, local governments and governmental agencies, the program singles itself out as the only international instrument that has flexibility to respond to emergency situations. This flexibility enabled speedy refocus of program resources at the aftermath of the 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquake when the UNDP contributed an additional 200,000 USD in support of civil society activities in rehabilitating and improving the physical and social infrastructure in the affected region. Thus, by end 1999, program resources, including UNDP and Government contribution, totaled 1,400,000 USD.

This additional UNDP contribution of 200,000 USD was channeled directly to voluntary organizations working in the earthquake affected areas providing rehabilitation, legal advise services and income generation opportunities for women to alleviate the disaster's impacts and to strengthen the coping capacities of the victims.

I trust the our cooperation with the UNDP in realizing successful projects will continue. I wish to thank all the representatives of the UNDP as well as the Directors of the DGSPW and its Project Unit for all their contributions to this program.

Hasan GEMICI

State Minister

FOREWORD

Of UNDP's many activities in support of Turkey's Development objectives, the advancement of women has been an area that has given our organisation ever increasing satisfaction for several reasons.

First of all, we at UNDP believe that women are at the heart of development. They increasingly prove this every day in the work place through their industry, productivity, creativity and management capabilities, but above all through their unique commitment and dedication. Women prove it when they assume their traditional roles as the backbone of their own families. They increasingly show us how governance can be enhanced by women's participation in all decision-making processes.

The second reason for our satisfaction is the result of the enormous progress made by women in Turkey. While there is certainly no denying that much remains to be done, women's contribution to Turkey's development has augmented, markedly over the last 30 years, both quantitatively and qualitatively, and very much in step with country's own advancement.

Our third source of satisfaction springs from the remarkable leadership of our partners, the Directorate General on the Status and Problems of Women, and the State Ministry for Women, Family and Social Services. This joint effort has yielded a most effective co-operation with other government offices, NGOs and a wealth of grassroots groups.

Progress for women is essential for the achievement of UNDP's main objectives of poverty elimination, job creation and sustainable development. We view equality for women and men as fundamental to the attainment of the goals of a number of global conferences, convened under UN auspices. These cover areas of vital concern for women such as education for all, environment, human rights, population and economic development, social development, urban living and shelter. 'Gender mainstreaming' - or systematically taking into account of the roles and links between men and women that are dictated by society-is thus a fundamental part of UNDP programmes.

In line with the recommendations of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and with the national development priorities of the Turkish Government, the current National Programme for Gender and Development was formulated in 1992 and has been successfully implemented since then. Until today, the project supported the establishment and strengthening of:

1. The National machinery for Gender-Directorate General on the Status and Problems of Women;
2. The Gender Data Bank, operated by State Institute of Statistics;
3. The capacity building of human resources devoted to the development of Gender and Development policy and programmes at all levels;
4. the gender training capacity established at such academic institutions, as the Middle East Technical University and the universities of Ankara, Istanbul and Cukurova.

To maintain the momentum, the scope of the Program has been recently expanded to incorporate additional activities focusing on:

1. increasingly employment and income opportunities for women in the Southern Eastern Anatolia (SEA) and Eastern Anatolia (EA) regions;
2. Enhancing gender and development training and management capacities in provincial institutions, NGOs and regional universities;
3. Strengthening technical and human resources capacity of the General Directorate on the Status and Problems of Women.
4. Training and income generating schemes focusing on leadership, community participation, entrepreneurship and self-employment, for the benefit of rural women.

As the country embarks on the exciting but uphill towards its membership in the European Union, the advancement of women, socially, economically, managerially and politically, will be a very real means of reaching the desired destination. In this regard, we are proud at UNDP, to be partners to the Turkish Government and civil society. Together, in a forward-looking partnership, we will not spare efforts aiming at ensuring the rapid and sustained development of Turkish women. Together, we will witness how, thanks to their ever-increasing participation in public affairs, Turkish women play a key role in the construction of tomorrow's Turkey.

Alfredo Witschi-Cestari

UNDP Resident Representative

GENERAL OVERVIEW

A general overview of women's status in Turkey is presented below in order to illustrate the operational background and context of the UNDP supported "Women in Development" technical cooperation program with the government of Turkey.

Women in Statistics:

• The annual rate of population growth is 1.6% where the percentage of urban population is 64%.
• As per the estimates of the Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies 1998 place life expectancy at birth for women at 71 years; for men it is 66.
• Compulsory basic education has been raised to 8 years from 5 in 1997, starting with the 1997-98 academic year. With 1995-96 academic years as base line, enrolment rates for the girl child are 88.2%. The same figure for boys is 92.3%. However, the educational disparity between the girl child and boys, following basic education, increases in proportion to the level of education attained.
• As per the finding of the April 1999 Household Labor Survey, illiteracy rates among women who are over 12 years, are at 22.4%, for men the same figure is 5.9%.
• As per the finding of the April 1999 Household Labor Survey, women's participation in the labor force is at 29.7%, where men's participation is 68.3. Of employed women, 72.2% are in agriculture. 87% of women in the agricultural sector are unpaid family workers.
• As per the findings of the April 1999 Household Labor Survey, women's participation in the labor force is at 29.7%, where men's participation is 68.3. Of employed women, 72.2% are in agriculture. 87% of women in the agricultural sector are unpaid family workers.
• As per the findings of the April 1999 Household Labor Survey, women participate in the services sector at increasing rates. While women constitute 18.1% of the labor force in the service sector, women's participation in the industrial sector is 9.7%.
• As per the findings of the April 1999 household Labor Survey unemployment among women in age group 15-24 is at 27.9%.
• As per the findings of 1998 Labor Statistics of the SIS, 53.7% of the working population do not have social security coverage; this ratio is 79.6% for women and 42.8% for men.
• As per the publication of the State Institute of Statistics in 1996 indicates that there are significant disparities between men and women in household responsibilities. Housework such as cooking, cleaning and ironing are carried out by women themselves in the family; 73.6%, 66.7% and 67.2% respectively, whereas women participation in the decisions about budget is 8.7%.
• The study conducted by the Family Research Agency, covering some 4287 persons on 12 provinces, points to physical violence in 34% of the families, and verbal violence and intimidation in 53%.
• The research study, published in 1995 by the DGSPW, and covering some 1070 married women and 351 women convicts, indicates that 21.2% of the married women, and 63.9% of the convicted women have been subject to violence. The study demonstrates that domestic violence is prevalent in Turkey.
• According to the research conducted by the Women’s Solidarity Foundation (September 1995) and covering some 796 women, 97% of women in Turkey are subject to domestic violence.
• The number of women parliamentarians in the congress following the 1935 elections was 18. Now, following the April 1999 elections, the number of women in the Grand National Assembly is 23.

NATIONAL PROGRAMME FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF WOMEN'S INTEGRATION IN DEVELOPMENT

The project is a joint program of the DGSPW and the UNDP executed since 1993. In support of the overall aims of enhancing the women’s status – as illustrated by the above presented statistical data, the project has the following priority areas:

• Integration of women’s problems in national development and sectoral plans with a view to developing policies for women’s enhanced participation in development,
• Creation f a gender disaggregated data base in support of policy development geared towards enhancing women’s participation in development,
• Strengthening the national machinery (DGSPW) in order to enhance effectiveness of activities for improving women’s legal, economic and social status and for monitoring such activities,
• Development of gender sensitive human resources through education and training programs,
• Support to research and pilot projects by and on non-governmental and volunteer women’s organizations.

• Compilation and dissemination of research and publications on women,
• Preparation of guides and bulletins for creating an effective information networks among and between organizations,
• Documenting all project activities and outputs.

EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Protocols have been concluded with national universities in order to contribute to the development of a human resource capacity, which is sensitive to women’s problems, and is knowledgeable and effective. With a view to supporting training and seminar programs at the national and regional levels in realization of these aims, several protocols with academic institutions have been concluded.

As per these protocols, short and long term courses and studies are conducted at: the Middle East Technical University Gender and Women Studies Graduated Program, Ankara University Women Studies Center (KASAUM), Istanbul University Women's Education and Research Center (KAUM), The Çukurova University Women's Studies Center (KADAUM).

Middle East Technical University (METU) Gender and Women's Studies Graduate Program was established under the project in 1994. It aimed to support research in gender roles and women’s studies as well as gender education. The program also aimed to provided expert training to members of different academic disciplines who will staff the relevant units of public and private agencies; and to contribute to the enhancement of public awareness and sensitivity towards gender. There are 24 students enrolled in this degree program which graduated its first class in spring 1999.

The protocol on “Development and Support of Education and Training Activities for Women” was concluded in 1993. As per the protocol, the academic personnel of the program prepared some 35 items of training material. In addition, a project entitled "Visual Material Workshop for Gender Sensitization" commenced during the 1996-97 academic year. Guided by the overarching principle of “For Women and With Women”, monthly workshops were held, for the benefit of both the degree students, as well as the political parties, syndicates and representatives of volunteer women’s organizations, with a view to creating gender awareness at the social level. The “For Women and With Women” workshops aimed to sensitize and inform people from various occupational and institutional backgrounds and to promote networking and partnership among those working on women’s issues. The workshop subjects were: Women, Politics, and Political Participation / Women and Environment / Women and Health / Women and Family / Women and Labor / Women and Education / Women and History/ Women and Association/ Women and Development.

Ankara University Women's Studies Center (KASAUM): in addition to the activities of the center itself, the short term training programs presented below were conducted. The goals were to strengthen women’s solidarity against discrimination and to sensitize institutions and organizations (such as parties and syndicates) towards gender discrimination.

Training programs aiming to enhance sensitivity towards women's problems: Within the framework of the training programs conducted at the women’s commissions of political parties, and emanating from the conviction that the factors working against women – both in legal field and in application – may be eradicated through women’s enhanced representation in politics, raising women’s awareness on difficulties faced in their effective participation in politics has been the aim under these programs.

In the training programs conducted with the syndicates, the females membership of syndicates in the fields where women are concentrated – such as education, health, tourism – have been identified as priority target beneficiaries. The main goal in conducting the training programs focusing primarily on women and labor has been to promote women’s enhanced representation in syndicate management so as to enable them to better confront gender based discrimination at the work place.

These programs also entail subject focus on women’s problems and cover issues such as gender based discrimination in law and equitable solutions, as well as representation of women in the mass media and day to day economic difficulties faced by women.

Program for Self Help Against Discrimination/Training for Strengthening Women: KASAUM developed a new program entitled “Self Help Against Discrimination” based on the recognition that condensed training programs cram the various subjects into the short time available and therefore prevent active participation. The Program views training “not as providing information but rather as a transformative process”. The aim is to inform women of the tools and methods they can develop to overcome and solve the personal and social impediments in political arena. This is attempted by enhancing women’s skills for problem identification, self expression, and initiative taking. The program was first implemented in 1996. Due to the program’s perceived contribution to team work, problem identification and target setting and its impact on transforming relations among women, the program has been implemented with several syndicates and political parties.

KASAUM has also conducted a “women strengthening” program for the benefit of the DGSPW professional staff. Training has been provided on the history of the women’s movement, sexism, reassessment of public policy for women, the international women’s movement, national experiences, empathy development and communication, as well as on legal terminology and project preparation.

 Program for Institutional Transformation against Discrimination: The Center prepared a training program entitled “Our Friend at the Police Station” targeted at civil servants. The program aims at sensitizing police officers who serve women victims of domestic violence. The program also dealt with the intimidating image of the police institution and police stations held by victims of domestic violence, who fear soliciting police help. Evaluation of the program – which was attended by some 93 police commissioners and officers of the Ankara Security Directorate – revealed that such programs will not have operational impact unless accompanied by institutional restructuring of the police force. Furthermore, without increasing the number of support mechanisms and institutions, sensitization on domestic violence has not proven to effect significant transformation.

KASAUM also prepared educational booklets for use in short term training programs: Political Life and Policies for Support to Women”; “Sexism in the Media”; “Education against Sexism”.

Istanbul University Women’s Research and education Center (KAUM): A protocol was concluded with this center on 9 March 1995. Training programs for women employed by political parties were consequently implemented. In this framework, training programs were provided to women employed by the district representations of CHP, ANAP and DYP. The training content covered the situation of women in politics, legal rights of women, the importance of association, methods for solving economic problems, and women’s rights. Speech training was also included in the program, with a view to supporting the beneficiaries’ effective participation in politics. As per the referred protocol, training programs were implemented with the civil society organizations as well. A training program entitled “The Social Status of Women and the Womanhood” was implemented with the Umraniye Women’s Center, the Association in Support of Contemporary Living – Zeytinburnu, Bakirkoy, Osmaniye Branches – and with the Gaziosmanpasa Women’s Foundation for Culture and Solidarity. This training covered the subject of : women in Republican Turkey, human rights of women, women’s health, women’s legal rights, women and labor, and democratic institutions. A total of 344 women from civil society organizations and political parties participated in the program.

Cukurova University Women’s Studies Center (KADAUM): A protocol was concluded on 5 April 1996, provisioning short term training. The center conducted a training program on “Women and Hot House Farming” for the benefit of rural women in Adana, a province home to increasing levels of urban migration. The training programs were implemented in the villages of Yumurtalik – Kaldirim, Karatas – Bahce, Ceyhan – Dokuztekne, Yesilkoy and Sarimazi. The program provided training not only in hot house farming and soil use, but also in family planning, mother child health, environmental problems, entrepreneurship and credits. The Center also implements training programs for women in several political parties, syndicates and volunteer women’s organizations.

RESEARCH PROJECT

Some 17 research projects have been supported under the National Programme for the Enhancement of Women’s Integration in Development. The research reports which are detailed below are available for public use and reference at the DGSPW Documentation Center.

• "Deconstructing Newspaper Messages on Violence Against Women” by Prof. Dr. Aysel Aziz in 1993. The study aims to demonstrate the methodologies with which violence against women is commonly reported in the printed media.
• "Bibliography of Publications about and by Women" project implemented by the Foundation of Women’s Library and Information Center in December 1993, resulted in a compilation and bibliography of all books and publications on and by women through 1955-1990.
• "Women’s Oral History" project implemented by the Foundation of the Women’s Library and Information Center aimed at identifying methodologies for better understanding the history of women living in turkey and at training researchers in oral history. Interview held with 18 women born before 1923 constitute important documents for women’s history in Turkey.
• "Monitoring and Archiving Reports on Women in the Media" project is implemented by the Foundation of the Women’s Library and Information Center. The project studied, through systematic survey of a multiplicity of press and TV media organs, the impact of the changing political environment following the 27 March 1994 elections on the lives of women.
• “Situation Analysis of Village Tourism and its Impact on Women and Development” was conducted under the overall supervision of Dr. Yakin Ertuk in the village of Yassihoyuk, Polatli. The analysis aimed at assessing the impact of tourism on this region’s economic and socio-cultural life and identifying how this village’s tourism potential could be utilized for the benefit of its women. The situation analysis obtained in the research project may be put to use for future implementations. The findings also constitute framework policy recommendations for training of women in home economics and tourism; and, promoting local handicraft.
• "Women Entrepreneurs in Small Establishments in the Tourism Sector" conducted by Prof. Dr. Nilgun Celebi of Ankara University Sociology Department. Study targeted Bodrum, Gumbet and aimed at identifying the role differentiation in family hotel operations, souvenir manufacturing, laundry operations, fruit vendors and subcontracted manufacturing etc. The study concluded that women entrepreneurs in Bodrum assume equal roles in enterprise management.
• "Study on Women Owners of Small Enterprises" conducted under the supervision of Dr. Yildiz Ecevit of the Middle East Technical University. The study aimed at identifying the labor conditions of women entrepreneurs and the pull and push factors, supporting and impeding women entrepreneurs. The study sought analyze the impact of entrepreneurship on the family and social status of women. It presents an overview of women’s activities in operating and expanding an enterprise. 20 women entrepreneurs from varying business sectors in Ankara were covered by the study. The study provided the theoretical framework for work in this field and yielded a “woman entrepreneur profile” which will provide the basis of future work in this regard.
• "The Profile of Women Trade Unionists in Turkey" is a research jointly conducted by Yol-Is Syndicate, Advisor Seyhan Erdogdu, and Dr. Gulay Toksoz of the Ankara University, Faculty of Political Science. The study is based on questionnaire surveys held at the Women Unionists Congress held in September 1995 and in depth interviews with a selected group among the Congress participants. The research findings provide information on the obstacles faced by women unionist and prescribe measures for promoting unionization among women.
• “Family, Marriage and the Relationship between the Socio-Cultural Environment and Women’s Criminality/ A Sociological Study of Rehabilitation in Prison" is a filed research covering women convicts in some 71 prisons across Turkey, conducted by Dr. Tulin Icli of the Hacettepe University Sociology of Department. The study establishes linkages between violence suffered by women and women’s criminality, and aims to find the socio-cultural or economic causes of the violence suffered by women and to identify other reasons accounting for women criminality. The study also investigates the type and scope of rehabilitation works in prisons and opens debate on the adequacy and effectiveness of present rehabilitation policies.
• “There are Women…” is a documentary film – prepared by Ceren Promotions – reporting the transition of women since the Ottoman Tanzimat period. Screened at the 4^th World Conference on Women in Beijing, this film was supported in order to compile comprehensive visual material on women’s history in Turkey.
• "The Display" is the second documentary film supported under the project. It investigates gender discrimination in the work environments of sales assistants. This short film was realized by the students of Ankara University Faculty of Communications under the overall supervision of Dr. Eser Koker.
• “Women’s Solidarity Nets in Patriarchal Societies” is a research study conducted by Dr. Feride Acar and Dr. Isenbike Togan of Middle East Technical University. The study centralized the concept of patriarchy as the key issue informing social association. The study aims to demonstrate the existence and resilience of solidarity nets among women in patriarchal societies. In other words, the women centered net of relations formed by women in other spheres of the social and the personal lives constitute the focus of this study. In this light, the period during which solidarity between and among women and the forms of this solidarity are demonstrated through stages of a woman’s life: childhood, youth, marriage, and motherhood.
• "Migrant Societies and Women’s Identities" is a study conducted under the overall supervision of Dr. Ayse Ayata of Middle East Technical University. It aims to identify the impact of migration on women from several migrant groups in Ankara and to assess how these women perceive urban life and adapt to it. The study assessed the new relationships formed through the rural to urban migration process and the interaction between women of different ethnic and religious groups through this process. In addition, the study also investigates the expectations of migrant women from their own communities. The project concentrates primarily on how ethnic ties compound patriarchal ideologies. 150 women from the Cerkez, Laz and Alevite groups participated in the sampling.
• “The Impact of Technological Advances on Women’s Employment in Industry" is a research study conducted by Dr. Hacer Ansal of the Istanbul Technical University, focusing on the textile and electronics industries; and, assessing the impact of technical innovations on women’s employment and on the evolving sexist ideologies governing women’s employment.
• "Family Structures and the Role of Women" was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Mehmet Ecevit of Middle East Technical University. Within the limitations of specific assumptions, the study investigates labor use (domestic and paid), socialization of domestic labor, demographics, family circles, patriarchal institutions, class, urban dynamics and socialization processes. The study covers urban families with salaries or services incomes.
• "Study of Time Utilization" was conducted under the supervision of Dr. Zehra Kasnakoglu of Middle east Technical University. The study aims to investigate the differences between the amount of time women give to domestic production and non-productive activities. The study notes that the former (women’s domestic activities, including cooking, cleaning, child care and education, home repairs etc.) are not recorded nor taken into consideration in national accounts. The study was based on a sampling, whereby time slots allocated for domestic production and non-productive activities were studied on a gender basis, taking in to account the education, age, occupation and other socio-economic specificities of the sample households. The study demonstrated that there are significant disparities between the time allocated by women to non-productive activities is much less and divided compare to the time slots given to non productive activities by men.
• “Migrant Women, their Expectations and Adaptation Problems” commenced its activities in December 1999 by the Mersin University Women’s Research Center (MER-KAM). The project is implemented in the metropolitan center of the Icel province, Mersin which has been home to an influx of migration in recent years. The findings compiled on the subject of migrant women will then be utilized as background material for the implementation projects planned by this Center, developed in cooperation with the provincial and local authorities and civil society organization and targeting migrant women.

PILOT PROJETCS

• “Women’s Labor Kitchen”: Under this project implemented by the Women’s Solidarity Foundation, a “Labor Kitchen” has been supported in the Bahcelievler district of Ankara where women residents of Shelter Homes (also operated by this Foundation) have been provided with income generation opportunities, whereby they prepared and commercially market home made food stuffs, such as jam, pickles, dried vegetables and soups and other dried food stuffs. The Kitchen also generates income for the running of the Shelter Homes.
• “Black Pepper Natural Food Store”: This project is piloted by the Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work and aims at creating a center where the natural food stuffs processed by low income women in urban peripheries and by rural Anatolian women can by marketed. The project utilized the skills and handicrafts of rural women from Artvin, Tokat, Kastamonu, Gaziantep and Mugla provinces and created incomes for them. The Store began its commercial operation on 30 November 1995. In addition to natural food stuffs like olives, olive oil, dried fruit, vegetables, fruit purees, tomato paste, molasses, jams, corn bread, herbs and spices, the Black Pepper Natural Food Store also markets authentic and less common food stuffs of local flavor. Poor urban women contribute to the efforts with packaging activities and derive income from marketing home made jam, pickle etc. The Black Pepper Store also provides training to interested women who wish to start up income generation activities.
• “Project for Income Generation Skills in Peri-urban Gecekondu Areas”: The project was implemented by the Istanbul University Women’s and Education Center. The project targets women and girls in peri-urban areas who have not had educational opportunities and who have no access to economic assets and instruments. The project aims at simultaneously creating skills (for using some key textile processing machinery, mass production of ready to wear garments etc.) Over 160 beneficiaries in the program received training in using sewing machines, over-lock etc. as well as attending seminars on health, nutrition, self confidence, legal rights, human rights, women rights, democracy and the gains of the Republic.
• “Project for Women’s Handicrafts”: This project is implemented to cover the Izmir province. The project began in January 1997 and is implemented by the Aegean Women’s Solidarity Foundation. A sales center has been opened up to provide a marketing channel for the handicrafts support under the project. The women participating in the project have also benefited from training in family planning, mother child health care, credit access, legal status and their legal rights.
• “Pilot Project in Support of Productivity of Paid Domestic Labor”: This project was implemented under the supervision of Dr. Belkis Kumbetoglu and Dr. Inci User in 1997 and aimed at giving an organizational structure to the low income, informal, non-sustainable labor of women working under informal contracts in manufacturing (on piecemeal basis) or in domestic services. On a pilot scale, the project sough to rationalize the in house production/manufacturing labor of women and to provide social security to women working in such fields as well as to make women’s labor more equitable in terms of income gained.
• “Weaving Workshop Project”: The project, implemented by the Philanthropist Association, aims to provide sustainable income generation activities to the women from Cukurca and Uzundere districts of Hakkari who have migrated to Van province. With this aim in view, a carpet weaving workshop has been supported in the Bostanici Yalim Erez district of Van and began operations in November 1997. 180 women have benefited from this workshop operation as of September 1998.
• “Carpet Weaving Project”: Under this program initiated by the Sanliufa Social Solidarity and Assistance Foundation, a carpet weaving workshop has been established whereby income generation for women has been targeted. The project began in May 1998 and also provides training on legal rights, the environment, health and other social issues.
• “Poultry Breeding Project”: This project began implementation in September 1998 by the Aegean University Women’s Studies Center. The project aims at training women in Izmir and its peripheric areas in poultry breeding. The training content also entailed awareness programs in legal rights, domestic violence, democracy and other social issues.
• “Toy Production – An Alternative Income generation Area for Women”: The project which began in September 1998 is implemented by the Foundation for the Support of Women’s Work. In the implementation area of Istanbul, some 100 women are being targeted and provided training after which they shall attain sustainable income opportunities in toy production. The toy will be produced primarily with recycled material. In addition to toys, some material for pre-school education purposes will also be produced. By ensuring international marketing mechanisms for the products, the aim is to ensure a sustainable source of income for the target beneficiaries.
• “Aydineller Project”: This project began in October 1998, in the Umurlu rural district of Aydin and is initiated by the Aydineller cooperative. The project aims at sustainable income generation for women by integrating their productivity in an organized collective production process. A Training and Production center was supported by the project. The center has been envisioned to become a venue where women can collectively use the production machinery and tools and receive training which allows for specialization. The center is also a display venue for the products.
• “Support to Women’s Economic Development”: This project has been inaugurated by the Mother and Child Health Foundation of Turkey in the province of Batman. The project supports income generation training as well as course on mother and child health and family planning. Of project participants, 20 have already gained employment. The project cooperates with the Multi Purpose Community Centers (CATOM – established by the Southeast Anatolia Regional Administration) and the Social Services and Child Protection Agency (SHCEK) in Batman province.
• “The Culture House for Women”: This project was established by the Foundation of Contemporary Women and Youth in March 1998 in the Tuzlucayir district of Mamak. The Culture House premises include a library, a cafeteria and sports facilities, as well as conference and theater auditoriums. The center provides legal and psychological counseling services as well as occupational skills training. In addition, the “Women’s Empowerment Training Program” was supported. This training program included discussions with lecturers and representatives from state agencies, local governments, civil society organizations and universities, followed by visits to the relevant agencies, municipalities, district governments, shelter homes and child care centers. Also through the project, women were taken to the cinema and plays and on city tours.

In response to the 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquakes, the following pilot projects targeting women in the disaster area were supported:

• “Izmit Rehabilitation Center”: The project commenced activities in Izmit on 6 September 1999 by the Women’s for Human Rights Project. The center services 400 children and adults per days and transports volunteers to man the center on 3-4 day rotation basis. The project will develop training for volunteers and thereby ensure continued staffing of the center by trained volunteers for outreach services.
• “Degirmendere Women’s Support Center”: This project commenced in December 1999 and is carried out by the World Academy for Local Government and Democracy Foundation and local governments. The project is implemented in the Kocaeli/Degirmendere distrist. It supports legal and psychological counseling for the women victims of the 17 August earthquake and aims at developing a local government crisis management plan which considers the gender perspective in rescue, aid, and services delivery in disaster situations. Following focused training of a group of local women, it is envisioned that larger target beneficiaries will be reached. The project will also include legal and medical counseling, psychological support as well as gender training for local governments.
• “Skills Training and Handicrafts Promotion for Women Victims of the Earthquake”: the project is to be realized by the Republican Women’s Association in the Adapazari Emirdag tent city. It aims to provide incomes for tent city women and to inform them on their social, political and legal rights. The Association has set up 4 tents as premises for income generation in response to the demand by women. In these tents, women will be able to produce handicrafts, while at the same time receive information on their legal rights and other social issues. Their products will then be displayed and marketed in metropolitan cities.

STATISTICS / PUBLICATION ACTIVITIES

1. Statistical / Data Base

Under the overall objective to support women’s participation on development, cooperation with the State Institute of Statistics (SIS) has been established in order to prepare a gender disaggregated data base which shall become a planning instrument for policy development in this regard. As per the protocol concluded between the SIS and the DGSPW, the process for the establishment of a department for “Social Structure and Women Indicators” has been speeded up. Technical equipment procurement to support the creation of a gender disaggregated data base has commenced. As per the protocol provisions, the data base has been designed and is presently being transmitted into a computerized/electronic environment. The SIS has also realized the following activities towards compiling the available data to generate gender based indicators:

Basic Statistics on Women, Turkey 1978 -1993, (Working Document, Turkish and English)

Women in Turkey through the 1990's (Working Document, Turkish and English)

Women in Statistics, Turkey 1995, (Brochure, within the framework of preparation for the 4th World Conference on Women, DGSPW with UNICEF cooperation).

2. Publications

The research projects supported under the program and published by the DGSPW are as follows:

• "Media, Violence and Women: Deconstruction of the Media Messages on Violence Towards Women,” Dr. Aysel Aziz, Ankara University.
• “Impact of Technological Advancements on Women in Industry,” Hacer Ansal, Istanbul Technical University.
• “Women Entrepreneurs in Small Enterprises in the Tourism Sector,” Dr. Nilgun Celebi, Ankara University.

• "A Few Things We Know About Men and Women", Aksu Bora, Ankara University
• "Political Life and Policies for Supporting Women," Dr. Serpil Sancar Usur /Ankara University
• "Sexism in Media," Nilufer Timisi / Ankara University

• Brochure entitled "We have Rights!" by the Project for Women’s Rights are Human Rights.
• “Women’s Bulletin” and the “Women’s Bulletin 8 March World Women’s Day Special Edition” through 1995 as communication network disseminating the activities of voluntary organizations and as well as relaying the information received at the DGSPW from various channels.
• “8 March Special Edition” of the “Southeast Anatolia Project Bulletin”.
• Brochure detailing the activities of the DGSPW and containing information on 3B (the Information Application Bank) for distribution at the Izmir international Fair.
• Report book entitled “Transitions in Women’s Labor and Employment in the Global Market: The Case of Turkey” compiling the proceeding of the Symposium on Customs Union and Its Impacts in Women’s Labor and Employment, organized on February 21, 1997 in Istanbul, jointly by the DGSPW and the Human Resource Development Foundation.
• Organization of panel on 30 September – 3 October 1998 and preparation of poster on “Women’s Literature and Women Writers of the Republican Era” on the occasion of the 75^th Year Anniversary Celebrations of the foundation of the Republic.
• KAZETE – women’s newspaper has been supported. KAZETE targets the Izmir region and documents and promotes the women’s associations and organizations in this area to support women’s efforts at establishing a women’s platform and a woman’s agenda and to strengthen interaction among women’s organizations.
• The Women’s Training Booklet of the Association in Support of Contemporary Life was printed.
• A playground tent was procured in Adapazari in the aftermath of the 17 August earthquake for the benefit of the women and children victims. Support was provided the activities of this child center under the coordination of the Social Services and Child Protection Agency.

GOALS FOR THE FUTURE

During the extension phase of the program, on the other hand, the East and Southeast Anatolian regions have been centralized with priority placed on pilot implementations and training programs in these regions. Because the DGSPW is not institutionalized at the provincial local levels, the Program – at this stage – aims to financially and technically support the establishment of Women’s Status Units in 13 provinces, at the local levels. Plans are in place to organize gender training programs for the professionals and staff of these provincial units to enhance these units’ functionality. In addition, seminars and meeting are planned for ensuring the interactivity between these provincial units. In order to realize these plans, the Ankara University Women’s Studies Center has initiated in January 1999 a situational analysis of the “For Women, With Women” training program, for its applicability to the Women’s Status Units.

The goals to be supported during the extension phase of the Program are as follows:

• Human Resource Development / Capacity Building, including training programs for strengthening women’s economic activities, income generation for rural women; enhancement of the capacities of the DGSPW personnel, for project formulation and management and for policy development and planning through in service training and fellowships.
• Women Centered Rural Development, including capacity building and support to training programs for community leadership, participatory development, women’s entrepreneurship, micro-credit; organization of national and international workshops, seminars.
• Support to national policy development for women’s participation in development and gender, supporting training programs, for the enhancement of the women’s perspective among the personnel of the Women’s Status Units established at provincial levels.
• Enhancing the substantive and management capacities of regional and provincial civil society organizations which prepare and implement income generation pilot projects and training programs in the South Eastern and Eastern Anatolia regions, enhancing the institutional capacities of university based women centers for gender and development training.