Gender-based violence was examined at CIU

Cyprus International University (CIU) held a seminar entitled “Be Prepared to Talk about Gender-Based Violence” as part of the 16-Day Activism Campaign to Combat Violence Against Women.

At the event organized by the CIU Women's Empowerment Center and Psychological Counseling and Guidance Center where the principles of preventing all forms of violence against women including gender equality and social security were discussed by Sibel Taçay Demirpençe, Director of the Women's Shelter of the Nicosia Turkish Municipality (NTM) Social Services Branch, Osman Ülman the Assistant Inspector of the Violence Against Women Branch of the Police Department, and Assist. Prof.  Dr. Eliz Volkan from the Department of Psychology of CIU Faculty of Arts and Sciences. 

In her speech at the event, Demirpençe, Branch Manager of NTM Women's Shelter, shared the information that NTM Women's Shelter started operating in 2016 and stated that the purpose of its establishment is to ensure that women and children who are exposed to violence can take refuge in their establishment, and receive the support services they need for their safety.

Demirpençe said that the Ministry of Labor's ALO 183 line can be reached 24/7 and imminent help can be sought by dialing ALO 155 phone line of the General Directorate of Police, and she added,   “As NTM, we have signed a memorandum of cooperation with the Ministry of Labor, the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Health, the General Directorate of Police and the SOS Children's Village Association. Within the scope of this memorandum, all stakeholders are moving forward together as the "Coordinating Mechanism for Combating Domestic Violence".

Ülman said that GSM numbers were added to the “ALO 183” notification line according to the districts, and that those in need should call the following numbers based on their location: Lefkoşa 0548 811 3183, Gazi Mağusa 0548 811 4183, Girne 0548 811 5183, Güzelyurt 0548 811 6183 and İskele 0548 811 7183.

Assist. Prof. Dr. Volkan explained the reasons for violence against women and stated that throughout history the basis of this violence has been the result of the ongoing inequality between men and women. Stating that there are different types of violence, Volkan focused mainly on psychological and emotional violence and examined the psychological and psychopathological conditions associated to them. 

Noting that violence and inequality against women increase even more in crisis or natural disaster situations as in the case of Covid-19, Volkan stated that climate change and the drought that is expected to follow will further affect the place of women in society and violence against women.