The Human Rights Education Program for Women (HREP)

Utilizing state resources to promote women’s human rights in Turkey

by Liz Ercevik A mad o

edited by Nancy L. Pearson

A Tactical No teb o ok p u blished by

the Ne w Tactics Project
o f the Center f or Victims o f Torture
Published by
The Center f or Victims o f Torture
Ne w Tactics in Human Rig h ts Project
717 East River Road
M inneapolis, M N 55455 USA
w w w.cvt.org, w w w.ne w tactics.org

Notebook Editor
Nancy L. Pearson

Design and copyediting

Susan Everson

© 2005 Center for Victims of Torture

This p u blicatio n may be freely repro d uced in prin t an d in electro nic f orm as lo n g as
t his co pyrig h t n o tice ap pears o n all co pies.

Disclaimer
The vie ws expressed in this report do not necessarily re flect those o f the Ne w Tactics in Human Rights Project.
The project does not advocate specific tactics or policies.
 4 A u t h or bio gra p hy

5
Letter from the Ne w Tactics Project Director

6 In tro d uctio n

6 Women’s human rights in Turkey

7 Ho w the tactic w as developed

8 Developing a partnership with a state agency

11 Lessons learned: maintaining success

12 O bstacles and challenges in partnering with the state

12 Su p p ortin g w ome n’s multi-level tra nsf orma tio n

15 Transferring the tactic

16 Re f ere nces

The Center f or Victims o f Torture

Ne w Tactics in Human Rig h ts Project
717 East River Road
M in neap olis, M N 55455 USA
w w w.cvt.org, w w w.ne w tactics.org

Liz Ercevik Amado
Liz Ercevik Amado, from Turkey, holds a B.A. in
literature from Yale University. Since 2002, she
has been the publishing coordinator and a pro-
gram officer at Women for Women’s Human Rights
(WWHR)–New Ways. She is currently co-coor-
dinating the national program and the Human
Rights Training Program for Women, developed
by WWHR–New Ways in 1995, and is also is the
program officer for WWHR–New Ways’ interna-
tional program to promote sexual, bodily and re-
productive rights in Muslim societies.
Liz Ercevik Amado has prepared and edited sev-
eral WWHR–New Ways publications, including
S e x u a l a n d B o d i l y R i g h ts a s H u m a n R i g h ts i n th e
Middle East and North Africa: A workshop report;
Human Rights Training Program for Women (1995–
2003) Evaluation Report; and Gender Discrimina-
tion in the Turkish Penal Code Draft Law and Proposed
Amendments. She also works as a freelance transla-
tor and editor, and has translated and edited nu-
merous works of fiction, exhibition catalogues and
articles.
Acknowledgements
I would like to thank everyone on the Women for
Women’s Human Rights (WWHR)–New Ways
team, in particular Ipek Ilkkaracan, Karin Ronge
and Pinar Ilkkaracan, for their contributions and
feedback. I would also like to thank all the train-
ers and participants for their invaluable contribu-
tions to the Human Rights Training Program for
Women.
Contact Information
Women for Women’s Human Rights
(WWHR)–New Ways
Kadinin Insan Haklari – Yeni Cozumler
Inonu Caddesi Saadet Apt. 37/6 Gumussuyu,
Istanbul 34437 Turkey
Telephone: +90 212 251 00 29
Fax: +90 212 251 00 65
web: www.wwhr.org
email: newways3@wwhr .org
WWHR-New Ways
Women for Women’s Human Rights (WWHR)–New Ways is
an independent women’s NGO based in Istanbul, Turkey.
WWHR was founded in December 1993, inspired by the
success of the international women’s human rights movement
at the World Conference on Human Rights in Vienna.
WWHR–New Ways aims to advance women’s human rights
worldwide, and to support—at national, regional and interna-
tional levels—the active and broad participation of women as
free individuals and equal citizens in the establishment and
maintenance of a democratic and peaceful order.
Through a decade of activism, advocacy and lobbying,
WWHR–New Ways has contributed significantly to various
legal reforms in Turkey, networking in Muslim societies and
promotion of women’s human rights at the UN level. Our
Human Rights Education Program for Women, which cel-
ebrated its tenth anniversary in 2004, is one of the most wide-
spread and comprehensive non-formal human rights education
programs in the world. WWHR–New Ways has also initiated
and coordinated numerous national campaigns to advance
women’s human rights and gender equality, including the Cam-
paign for the Reform of the Turkish Penal Code (2002–2004),
the Campaign for the Reform of the Turkish Civil Code (2000-
2001), and the Campaign for the Adoption of a Protection
Order Law against Domestic Violence (1997–1998). On the
international level, WWHR–New Ways has successfully
worked to initiate a network of academicians and NGOs ad-
vocating for women’s human rights in Muslim societies. “The
Coalition for Sexual and Bodily Rights in Muslim Societies,”
the first active solidarity network in Muslim societies, advo-
cates for the promotion of sexual and reproductive health and
rights as human rights. WWHR–New Ways has also actively
partaken in advocacy efforts on the UN level, including the
ICPD, Beijing and CEDAW processes.
In recognition of its advocacy and lobbying efforts towards the
adoption of a protection order law against domestic violence
in Turkey, WWHR–New Ways was elected as one of the NGOs
worldwide to deliver a statement at the U.N. Global World
Conference in March, 1999. WWHR was also awarded the
1999 Leading Solutions Award by the Association for Women
in Development (AWID), in recognition of its contributions
to advancing gender equality and social justice.
WWHR–New Ways employs a strategic multi-pronged ap-
proach to promote women's human rights. We combine and
employ a variety of methods in a complementary manner, in-
cluding advocacy and lobbying; widespread and sustainable
human rights education programs for women and various
trainings; the production and dissemination of awareness-rais-
ing materials and publications; action research; and national
and international networking.
July 2005

Dear Friend,

Welcome to the New Tactics in Human Rights Tactical Notebook Series! In each notebook a human
rights practitioner describes an innovative tactic used successfully in advancing human rights. The authors
are part of the broad and diverse human rights movement, including non-government and government
perspectives, educators, law enforcement personnel, truth and reconciliation processes, and women’s rights
and mental health advocates. They have both adapted and pioneered tactics that have contributed to
human rights in their home countries. In addition, they have utilized tactics that, when adapted, can be
applied in other countries and situations to address a variety of issues.

Each notebook contains detailed information on how the author and his or her organization achieved what
they did. We want to inspire other human rights practitioners to think tactically—and to broaden the
realm of tactics considered to effectively advance human rights.

In this notebook we learn about how effective and beneficial building collaborative relationships with
government institutions can be to advancing human rights education. Women for Women’s Human
Rights (WWHR)-New Ways in Turkey gained the support and use of government resources for furthering
human rights education of women at the local level. WWHR-New Ways developed a highly successful
human rights education curriculum for women but needed an accessible, structured and sustainable way
to reach women in need of learning about their rights. They found and developed an excellent partnership
through government run, local level community centers. These community centers offered not only
professional social workers who could be trained by WWHR-New Ways in facilitating the human rights
education curriculum, but also a safe and accessible place for women to learn about their rights. We hope
this notebook will provide ideas and insights for others as they seek opportunities for building mutually
beneficial and sustainable relationships with government bodies for furthering human rights efforts.

The entire series of Tactical Notebooks is available online at www.newtactics.org. Additional notebooks
will continue to be added over time. On our web site you will also find other tools, including a searchable
database of tactics, a discussion forum for human rights practitioners and information about our
workshops and symposium. To subscribe to the New Tactics newsletter, please send an e-mail to
newtactics@cvt.org.

The New Tactics in Human Rights Project is an international initiative led by a diverse group of
organizations and practitioners from around the world. The project is coordinated by the Center for
Victims of Torture (CVT) and grew out of our experiences as a creator of new tactics and as a treatment
center that also advocates for the protection of human rights from a unique position-one of healing and
reclaiming civic leadership.

We hope that you will find these notebooks informational and thought-provoking.

Sincerely,

Kate Kelsch
 Introduction
Since its pilot application phase in Istanbul shantyto w ns
d urin g 1995–1996, t h e H u m a n Rig h ts Ed uca tio n Pro-
gra m f or W o m e n (HREP), d evelo p e d by W W HR–N e w
W ays, has expanded to 30 cities throughout all regions
o f Turk ey. M ore t h a n 4,000 w o m e n h ave p articip a t e d
in the program, w hich is currently the most widespread
a n d co m pre h e nsive n o n-f orm al h u m a n rig h ts e d uca-
tion program in Turkey and in the region.
Within the human rights frame w ork the education pro-
gram explores civil, eco n omic, p olitical, sexu al, re pro-
d uctive a n d sexu al rig h ts, g e n d er se nsitive p are n tin g,
childre n’s rig h ts, a n d viole nce a g ainst w o m e n, w it h a
focus on grassroots organizing and mobilization for so-
cial ch a n g e. A n d t hro u g h discussio ns o f w o m e n’s h u-
m a n rig h ts a n d viola tio ns in rela tio n t o p articip a n ts’
p erso n al exp erie nces, alo n g w it h w orksh o ps o n co m-
munication skills, the program provides the tools to ap-
ply the critical consciousness of human rights to life. In
t his pro gram a varie ty o f fields—la w, e d uca tio n, g e n-
der, psychology, personal development and political ac-
tivism—in t ersect w it hin a h olistic p ersp ective. Th e
methodology of the program, with its participatory ap-
pro ach a n d close d gro u p f orm a t, is a m ajor f act or in
the success of the program, creating an atmosphere of
trust and solidarity among the w omen.
To maintain and expand this broad outreach, W W HR–
N e w W ays h as u tiliz e d st a t e reso urces t o im ple m e n t
t he pro gram in commu nity cen ters. The tactic, in f act,
emerged as a promising collaboration and came to ini-
tial success w h e n w e sig n e d a pro t ocol w it h t h e G e n-
eral Directorate of Social Services in 1998 to implement
HREP in these cen ters. Thro u g h the pro tocol, W W HR–
People think, she is a woman,
she should not see or learn anything, and
her eyes should be veiled. I was not aware that I
have a personality, that I am myself. I only had duties;
I was only fulfilling my tasks. The concept of shame and
prohibitions were ruling my life. During the Women’s Human
Rights Training process, I understood that I am a person, a woman
and that I have rights. In the course of the Women’s Human Rights
Training, I learned communication. I had taken other trainings,
courses before. Yet, it is with the Women’s Human Rights Training
Program that all these trainings formed a whole, the concepts started
to fit in place. During the process, my husband and children also
changed. They started to appreciate and support me. Both my
daughter and I are very lucky that I have been through this
training. After the Women’s Human Rights Training I found
myself. I am a citizen, an individual; I exist.
Elif, HREP participant from Istanbul
6
N e w W ays trains social w ork ers as HREP train ers, a n d
t h ese train ers im ple m e n t t h e pro gra m in co m m u nity
centers throughout the country.
These government-sponsored and supported commu-
nity ce n t ers are se t u p primarily in socio-eco n o mically
disadvantaged areas of Turkey. Unlike many other state
instit u tio ns, t h ey d o n o t ru n w it h a hierarchical t o p-
do w n structure. By aspiring to cater to the community’s
needs, they provide an appropriate setting for the imple-
me n t a tio n o f HREP. A n d as t h ey are st a t e instit u tio ns,
t h ey are m uch m ore accessible t o w o m e n, w h o f ace
little resistance from husbands or families for spending
time at a community center. The collaboration has thus
proved very fruit f ul in a number o f w ays.
In this notebook w e provide an overvie w of HREP’s suc-
cess in pro m o t in g w o m e n ’s h u m a n rig h ts o n t h e
grassro o ts level a n d in servin g as a ca t alyst f or social
ch a n g e, a n d w e explore as w ell t h e t actic o f u tilizin g
state resources f or human rights education.
Understanding the tactic context:
women’s human rights in Turkey
So o n a f ter its f o u n datio n in 1994-1996 W W HR u nder-
t o o k ext e nsive field actio n rese arch in Turk ey o n
w o m e n’s h u m a n rig h ts issu es. Th e rese arch w as co n-
ducted in various cities, and included more than 1,500
face-to-face intervie ws with w omen.
The research revealed that the majority of w omen had
n o a w are n ess o f t h eir b asic h u m a n a n d le g al rig h ts,
and that they lacked the kno wledge and skills to access
mechanisms to enforce these rights. A n enormous gap
t h us exist e d b e t w e e n e g alit aria n la ws o n p a p er a n d
t h e everyd ay practices t h a t g overn e d w o m e n’s lives.
The Human Rights Education Program for W omen w as
d evelo p e d as a t o ol t o a d dress t h ese pro ble ms. It w as
based on the premise that if w omen are a w are of their
rig h ts as d e fin e d in n a tio n al le gisla tio n a n d in t ern a-
tio n al d ocu m e n ts, a n d are e q uip p e d w it h t h e k n o w l-
edge and skills to realize these rights, they will be able
to devise their o w n strategies to overcome the discrimi-
n a tio n a n d h u m a n rig h ts viola tio ns t h ey f ace a n d t o
become active agents of social change.
Unique in its region of the w orld, Turkey is governed by
secular law. The founding of the Turkish Republic in 1923
bro u g h t a n e n d t o t h e O t t o m a n Em pire’s syst e m o f
parallel la ws and established a secular, unified and stan-
dardized legal system adapted from the European sys-
t em o f la w.
The Turkish Civil Code, adapted from the Swiss Civil Code
a n d in tro d uce d in 1926, a b olish e d p olyg a my a n d
granted w omen equal rights in matters of divorce, child

custody and inheritance. The Turkish Civil Code reform
in 2001 a b olish e d t h e su pre m acy o f m e n in m arria g e
an d established t he f ull eq uality o f men an d w omen
in t h e f amily, a result o f a n ext e nsive n a tio n al cam-
paign by the Turkish w omen’s movement. Women
in Turkey have had the right to vote and be elected
since 1934. M ost rece n tly, t h e 2004 Turkish Pe n al
Code Reform resulted in major amendments safe-
guarding w omen’s sexual, bodily and reproductive
rights, and abolished discrimination against or be-
t w e e n virgin, n o n virgin, m arrie d a n d u n m arrie d
w omen. M any provisions legitimizing w omen’s hu-
m a n rig h ts viola tio ns h ave b e e n elimin a t e d fro m
t h e n e w co d e, a n o t h er acco m plish m e n t o f t h e
w omen’s groups.
But despite egalitarian la ws on paper and the gains of
w o me n in Turkey over t h e last d eca d e, discrimin a tio n
against w omen and girls persists. Even with the state’s
incre ase d e m p h asis o n h u m a n rig h ts over t h e last 20
ye ars a n d t h e im p act o f t h e EU asce nsio n process,
w omen’s human rights and full gender equality are still
not a priority on the state’s agenda or in public policy.
M a ny w o m e n are still co n fin e d t o roles o f t h e “ girl-
child, ” “ w if e ” or “ m o t h er, ” restrictin g t h eir h u m a n
rig h ts. Furt h erm ore, m a ny cust o m ary practices w hich
contradict national legislation and global human rights
norms continue to dominate w omen’s lives. Customary
practices such as e arly a n d f orce d m arria g es, h o n or
crimes and bride price continue, and patriarchal social
constructs still infringe on w omen’s human rights— the
rig h t t o ed ucatio n, t o w ork, t o mo bility, an d t o b o dily
and sexual integrity and autonomy.
A lt h o u g h prim ary e d uca tio n is co m p ulsory in Turk ey,
o f ficial n a tio n al st a tistics sh o w t h a t, as o f 2000, 19.4
p erce n t o f w o m e n in Turk ey are illit era t e. Rese arch
co n d uct e d b y W W HR–N e w W a ys i n U m r a n iy e , a
sh a n tyt o w n o f Ist a n b ul, f o u n d t h a t w hile m arrie d
w o m e n d o n o t le g ally re q uire t h e p ermissio n o f t h eir
h usb a n ds t o w ork, 50 p erce n t o f t h e m arrie d w o m e n
living in Umraniye cannot w ork because their husbands
d o n o t allo w it. A n d n a tio n al st a tistics reve al t h a t
w omen’s participation in the labor force and politics is
very limited, signifying the challenges to w omen’s pres-
e nce in t h e p u blic sp h ere. Less t h a n 4 p erce n t o f n a-
tional parliament members are w omen, and w omen’s
participation in the national w orkforce is as lo w as 18.5
percent in urban Turkey.
A dditional field research conducted by W W HR in east-
ern a n d so u t h e ast ern Turk ey in 1996-1997 reve ale d
t h a t 51 p erce n t o f w o m e n h a d b e e n m arrie d a g ainst
t h eir w ill, d espit e t h e la w f orese ein g m u t u al co nse n t
as a pre-condition for marriage. Even though the Turk-
I am the first female child who
went to school in my family. I finished pri-
mary school but I was not allowed to go to middle
school. My family got me married to my uncle’s son. All my
life I could not even walk out the door when I wanted. I discov-
ered the Women’s Human Rights Training Program after I had my
sixth child. Then both my family life and social life changed. I started to
talk about this training and about our rights with every woman I knew. I saw
that you have your own rights, as a woman, as a mother, and that you have the
right to know about these rights. We started working as a group after the
Women’s Human Rights Training. When we first started this job, we did not
even have a studio; we were making the candles at home. Then we rented a small
store. In the past, I was hardly able to leave the house, but now I am talking
about making connections with the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, the
Directorate of Cultural Affairs, the City Directorate, and private firms. Our
goal is to promote the social and economic status and awareness of women
in Diyarbak?r. We aim to bring women into the production process and
take them out of the home. I pushed the door open, I have a job, I
have a group of people I work with, we have goals and plans, and
here I am in Istanbul representing my group.
Museyyer, a participant from Diyarbakir,
Southeastern Turkey
ish Civil Code foresees equal inheritance rights for men
a n d w o m e n, 61 p erce n t o f w o m e n in e ast ern Turk ey
report that customary la ws prohibit them from inherit-
ing anything.
W W HR–Ne w W ays develo ped t he Human Rig h ts Ed u-
cation Program for W omen to create a comprehensive
background for w omen’s human rights issues and legal
rig h ts in Turk ey, a t t h e sa m e tim e b uildin g a critical
co nscio usness t o enable w omen t o realize t heir rig h ts
and put these rights into practice in everyday life, both
in private and public spheres.
How the tactic was developed:
Beginnings, 1995–1998
The first pilot implementation of HREP took place dur-
in g 1995–1996 in U mra niye, a sh a n tyt o w n are a in
Ist a n b ul t o w hich a larg e n u m b er o f p e o ple migra t e,
a n d w as in co o p era tio n w it h t h e U mra niye W o m e n’s
Center, the only grassroots w omen’s NG O in Istanbul at
the time. W W HR provided trainer trainings and super-
visio ns, an d the f eed back from participan ts an d train-
ers w as very p ositive. Th e preco nceive d n o tio ns t h a t
poverty w ould be an obstacle to the realization of hu-
m a n rig h ts, a n d t h a t w o m e n w o uld n o t b e dra w n t o
the program, w ere both proven wrong.
A second pilot implementation w as conducted in south-
e ast ern Turk ey, a n d a t t h e sa m e tim e t h e success o f
the first pilot inspired us to develop a training manual.
A t e a m o f five exp erts fro m dif f ere n t aca d e mic b ack-
gro u n ds pre p are d t h e ext e nsive p u b lica t io n. Th e
manual, targeting HREP trainers, includes background
Promoting women’s human rights in Turkey 7
in f orm a tio n, activities a n d g uid elin es f or
each of the 16 modules, with accompanying
instructions for trainers and an appendix for
each sectio n co n t ainin g in f orma tio n sh ee ts
f or p articip a n ts. Pu blish e d in 1998, it h as
been supplemented by a number of resource
m a t erials, inclu din g It’s Tim e t o Say N o , a
vid e o o n d o m estic viole nce pro d uce d by
W W HR; the W e Have Rights series, informa-
tive illustra t e d b o o kle ts o n w o m e n’s le g al,
re pro d uctive a n d sexu al rig h ts t h a t are di-
rected at lo w-literacy w omen; and action re-
search articles by W W HR–Ne w W ays.

Bu t despite t he p ositive f eed back from par-

ticip a n ts o n h o w HREP tra nsf orm e d t h eir
lives, as w ell as t h e pro gra m’s so u n d co n-
t e n t—d evelo p e d a n d ela b ora t e d over tim e
in resp o nse t o p articip a n t resp o nses—w e
faced difficulty finding the means to expand
a n d sust ain t h e pro gra m. HREP w as a 16-
w e e k co m pre h e nsive pro gra m, co n d uct e d
with intense supervision, and group facilita-
t ors h a d t o b e in t e nsively train e d t o le a d
groups and understand gender perspective.
Ensuring that the program could be sustained
required immense effort, time and resources
from W W HR. Collab oratio n w ith NG Os also
limit e d t h e sco p e o f t h e pro gra m t o larg er
cities, a n d o ur p art n er N G Os f ace d f u n din g
problems that made it difficult to implement
the program. Furthermore, our partner
NG Os lacked the human resources qualified
to conduct intensive grup w ork and the qual-
ity o f t h e pro gram w as dif ficult t o est a blish
and maintain.

Facing the challenge of

sustainability: developing
a partnership with
a state agency
W hile seeking a solution to the problems of
a n d exp a nsio n, w e f o u n d t h a t t h e Ge n eral
Direct ora t e o f Social Services w as est a blish-
in g co mm u nity ce n t ers t hro u g h o u t Turkey.
Although a state-NG O partnership, particu-
larly with a feminist organization, w as not at
all common at the time, the Director of Social
Services—a pro gressive social w orker him-
self—expressed interest in HREP. Top: HREP group in Van, Eastern Anatolia.
Center and bottom: A workshop during HREP
Trainer Training, Istanbul, 2002.
Before moving forw ard, w e researched and evaluated
t h e pros a n d co ns o f such a p art n ership. W e w ere
ple ase d t o discover t h a t t h e ce n t ers are se t u p prim a-
rily in disadvantaged areas, are not run as hierarchical
top-down institutions, and respond to community needs.

8
W e determined, then, that they provided a very appro-
pria t e se t tin g f or t h e im ple m e n t a tio n o f HREP. Th ey
are also very accessible to the w omen w e are trying to
re ach, as h usb a n ds a n d f amilies are rarely resist a n t t o
the idea o f spending time at a community center.
A nother advantage of the collaboration, obvious from
the outset, w as that w e w ould be able to train commu-
nity social w orkers—w ho already possessed the educa-
tional and vocational background for the participatory
group w ork with disadvantaged groups—as HREP train-
ers. W orking in the centers equipped these staff mem-
bers with kno wledge of w omen in the community and
their needs. A nd because the social w orkers remained
on staff at the centers, w omen participating in the pro-
gra m co uld re t urn a f t er its co m ple tio n f or o n-g oin g
su p p ort. Illustra tin g t h e p art n ership’s reciprocal b e n-
e fits, train ers h ave f o u n d HREP t o b e very use f ul in
t h eir w ork, a n d HREP p articip a n ts h ave t h e mselves
become actively involved in their community centers.
The existence of these community centers throughout
Turk ey h elp e d us m e e t t h e ch alle n g e o f exp a nsio n. In
1998 w e sig n e d a pro t ocol w it h t h e G e n eral Direct or-
a t e, a n d as it a p plie d t o all ce n t ers, it w as f e asible f or
us t o id e n tify n e w ce n t ers a n d recruit n e w train ers.
A p proxim a t ely 115 social w ork ers h ave b e e n train e d
as train ers in t h e five sessio ns co n d uct e d by W W HR
since 1998. As o f 2004, t h e pro gra m h as b e e n im ple-
mented in 30 provinces spanning all seven geographic
re gio ns o f Turk ey, in over 45 ce n t ers, a n d h as re ach e d
more than 4,000 w omen. It is the only comprehensive,
non-formal human rights education program in Turkey
with such wide outreach.
O ur collab oration w ith the General Directorate o f So-
cial Services b e g a n a t a tim e w h e n a m ajority social
democrat coalition w as in government, the state minis-
try h e a din g social services w as le d by a minist er fro m
t he social democrat party, an d t he ap p oin ted direct or
o f social services w as a n exp ert in t h e field a n d h a d a
social democrat profile. As such, the administration and
t h e d ecisio n ma k ers lo o k e d f avora bly o n t h e p art n er-
ship.
M e a n w hile, t h e G e n eral Direct ora t e w as just st artin g
t o est a blish t h e co m m u nity ce n t ers, w it h t h e direct or
o f social services sp e arh e a din g t h e initia tive. Se e kin g
pro gra ms t h a t w o uld su p p ort a n d e n h a nce t h e ce n-
t ers’ activities, h e w as excit e d w h e n w e a p pro ach e d
him a b o u t HREP, a n d in t erest e d t o h e ar h o w w e
thought the program could contribute to center objec-
tives. It w as crucial t h a t HREP h a d alre a dy b e e n very
successf ul in t h e pilo t im ple m e n t a tio ns a n d t h a t t h e
program w as in a fully matured state with written and
visual training materials, including a 300-page trainer’s
manual.
The signing of the protocol w as thus a product of both
t h o u g h t f ul stra t e gies a n d f avora ble circumst a nces. In
establishing a partnership with the state it w as crucial
t o t a k e a dva n t a g e o f a rela tively pro gressive p olitical
climate and identify the right individuals with w hom to
initia t e such colla b ora tio n. A n d in ord er t o e nsure a
bro a d o u tre ach, it w as esse n tial t o sig n t h e pro t ocol
I started to discuss with my family and friends the things
we have talked about and learned in the Women’s Human
Rights Training; I was also trying to put these things into
practice. After the training I regained my self-confidence. I
learned that I also have rights, and that I can use these
rights. I realized there is no such thing as having to do
everything my husband tells me. Today, my ideas and deci-
sions are also taken seriously. When necessary, I argue with
my husband, criticize him, even snap at him. My relation
with the household has also started to change. Now they
respect me, value my thoughts, and help out with the house
chores. I have made it my goal to be useful first of all to
myself, then to my community. Not everyone comes to get
this training. Thus I am doing my best to inform the oth-
ers. It is definitely great that the Women’s Human Rights
Training is being offered here in the Onur neighborhood,
yet the process of changing our people is a slow one, it
takes time. I was not always such an initiating, outgoing
woman who knew her rights. As I said, my self-confidence
enhanced after the Women’s Human Rights Training Pro-
gram.
I have friends who have experienced domestic violence. I
explain to them that they have rights and that they can
defend these rights. Some of them have gone to the police
station for help. However, the police officer there told
these women “spouses have fights and then they make up,
we cannot interfere” and sent them back home. The police
have certain responsibilities; the woman should be sent to
the hospital for instance, she should see a doctor. Every-
body should be informed about the duties and responsi-
bilities of the police station. Since we did not know our
rights as women, we could not defend them either. This
situation changed after the Women’s Human Rights Train-
ing Program. Now I go to the police station with my friends
who were subjected to domestic violence, and I tell the
officers there “You people have to do something about this
in here; we will demand what is rightfully ours; and you
should be guiding us.” Now I talk to them in this manner.
Today, the officers at the police station are more aware of
their own responsibilities.
Cemile, HREP participant
Promoting women’s human rights in Turkey 9
 I was born and raised in Sivas (a city in Eastern
Turkey). Our society, our elders, including my own
mother, taught us that we, girls and women, are always
with the central govern- second-class citizens. When we moved to Çanakkale (a city PHASE II: TRAINER
ing agency; this allo w ed in North Western Turkey), I participated in the Women’s Hu- TRAINING
us t o o b t ain o n e co m- man Rights Training Program. During the training, I started to In t h is p h ase t h e
prehensive permissio n recognize myself primarily as a woman and definitely not as a W W H R– N e w W a ys
for our w ork rather second-class person. Acknowledging myself as a woman, a human t e a m t r a i n s s o ci a l
than individual permis- being and an individual had huge effects on my relations with my w o r k e rs a n d o t h e r
sio ns f or e ach ce n t er. family, my social circle. Most important of all, this acknowledg- p o t e n t i a l t r a i n e rs,
A ls o cr u ci a l w a s o u r ment affected my self-reflection. I became a confident, more e ach o f w h o m is care-
a gre e m e n t o n t h e provi- liberated woman and person. I decided I wanted to have a fully selected. The Gen-
sio ns o f t h e pro t ocol (i.e. profession. I wanted to find a job to meet my own needs e r a l D i r e c t o r a t e f i rs t
its tim e sp a n); o n o ur co n- and desires. identifies candidates from
trol of the content, implemen- t h e socia l w o r k e rs a t t h e
t a tio n, a n d m o nit orin g o f t h e Senay, HREP participant community centers; candidates
pro gra m; a n d o n h o w HREP w o uld from Canakkale ca n also b e reco m m e n d e d by ex-
be integrated into the centers’ programs isting trainers. W e revie w this list, con-
from t h e o u tse t. duct phone intervie ws with candidates, and
o b t ain re f ere nces fro m o t h er train ers a n d t h e direc-
Follo wing the signing of the protocol, HREP’s outreach torate. O ur criteria include a willingness to implement
broadened rapidly. As W W HR–Ne w Ways w e conducted HREP o n a lo n g-t erm a n d co n tin u o us b asis, a stro n g
intensive ten-day trainer trainings (in 1998, 1998, 2000, interest in human rights and w omen’s rights issues, and
an d 2002) w it h selected gro u ps o f social w orkers w h o experience conducting group sessions. Follo wing the in-
t h e n im pleme n t e d t h e pro gram in t h e field o n a n o n- t ervie ws w e fin aliz e t h e list o f p articip a n ts f or t h e
going basis. The scope of the program expanded in this trainer training.
w ay, and through time and experience it became more
institutionalized. The ten-day training is a condensed application of HREP,
an d also inclu des sessio ns o n f acilitatio n, commu nica-
Thro u g h ye ars o f im ple m e n t a tio n, f e e d b ack fro m tion, feminism and other topics. Through first-hand ex-
gro u ps a n d train ers, a n d p erp e t u al evalu a tio n by p e ri e nce as g r o u p p a r t ici p a n ts, t h e t r a i n e rs a r e
W W HR–Ne w W ays, HREP is no w conceptualized in the acquainted with the program’s subject matter and meth-
follo wing five phases. odology. They learn how to conduct the training by study-
ing their o w n rights, examining their o w n experiences,
PHASE I: and developing action plans to implement their train-
DEVELOPING THE PARTNERSHIP PROTOCOL ing in their o w n community centers. W hen they receive
The initial step of this phase is particularly crucial: iden- their trainer’s certificate at the conclusion of the train-
tifying the appropriate partner and devising a strategy in g, t h ey are eligible t o im ple m e n t HREP o n t h e local
f or a sust ain a ble colla b ora tio n. In o ur case, re t ainin g level. Th ey are also exp ect e d t o m a k e a co m mit m e n t
t h e pro gra m’s q u ality a n d m a kin g cert ain it re ach e d to implement HREP in the field, on average completing
t h e t arg e t p o p ula tio n w as as im p ort a n t as e nsurin g t w o gro u ps per year.
sustainabilty and expansion. The vision of the General
Direct ora t e o f Social Services a t t h e tim e t h ere f ore PHASE III: FIELD IMPLEMENTATION
t urn e d o u t t o b e very suit a ble f or us. O ur lo n g-t erm Certified trainers form HREP groups at community cen-
p art n ership w it h a st a t e a g e ncy in local st a t e instit u- ters, creating closed groups1 of 20–30 local w omen. Each
tions brought a kind of legitimacy to the program, but gro u p m e e ts o nce a w e e k, f or 16 w e e ks, in h alf-d ay
w e w ere also a ble t o re t ain co m ple t e a u t o n o my a n d sessio ns o n dif f ere n t m o d ules, a n d p articip a n ts w h o
m o nit orin g p o w er over pro gra m co n t e n t a n d im ple- complete the program receive certificates. W W HR sup-
mentation. p lies t h e gro u ps w it h train in g m a t erials, se n ds a
m o n t hly n e wsle t t er t o lin k t h e m w it h e ach o t h er,
Access to the community centers and social w orkers via W WHR and with the national and international women’s
the protocol also contributed significantly to HREP, al- m ove m e n ts, a n d provid es su p ervisio n a n d su p p ort
lo w in g us t o reach b o t h reachin g trainers an d t he tar- through site visits and telephone conversations.
g e t gro u ps. W it h t h e pro gra m in t e gra t e d in t o t h e
services o f t h e co mm u nity ce n t ers, w e also h a d access
to appropriate and suf ficient space and resources. 1
In a closed group process, participants are selected at the beginning
and no new members are admitted during the pre-determined time
period set for the process. Open group processes allow new members
to be admitted, and usually are conducted with open-ended time
periods as well.

10
PHASE IV: MONITORING AND EVALUATION
M onitoring and evaluation are an integral part of HREP
implementation. W W HR organizes periodic evaluation
meetings with trainers, in addition to field supervision
visits. W e also conduct trainings on recent legal reforms
a n d curre n t h u m a n rig h ts issu es, a n d u p d a t e a n d dis-
seminate our training material accordingly.
PHASE V: WOMEN’S GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING
INITIATIVES EMERGING FROM HREP
O ne o f HREP’s ultimate o bjectives is t o serve as a cata-
lyst for change, mobilizing w omen to act together and
helping them organize on a grassroots level to promote
their o w n self-identified needs. These collective efforts
enable a more sustainable and effective means to pro-
mote human rights. M ore than 15 local initiatives in ten
cities have emerged so far. To support this work, W WHR–
Ne w W ays lin ks p articip a n ts w it h o t h er local a n d n a-
t i o n a l g r o u p s, p r o v i d e s s u p p o r t a n d a d v ice o n
networking, fundraising, and capacity building, and helps
groups integrate into the national w omen’s movement.
W e also org a niz e re gio n al mee tin gs a n d trainin gs f or
emerging grassroots organizations.
I was sent as a bride to my relatives. They were living in a
village, Karaköçen in Elaz??. It was a desolated place, not one
neighbor within sight. When we moved to Izmir, I went to the
Community Center because I was experiencing domestic vio-
lence. There I started to participate in the Women's Human
Rights Training Program. Throughout the fifteen years of my
marriage, I endured the physical oppression of my husband
and his family.
At work I heard about the activities in the Community Center
and came here. I participated in the Women's Human Rights
Training. During this training, I started to put up a fight against
my husband. In the course of the training I heard about human
rights, the Purple Roof Foundation for Women's Shelters. I
learned that women have rights too. I said, I have rights, and I
do not deserve this violence. I have been married for twenty
years and for the last five I have been living like a lady. I
struggled to bring about this change myself; I changed here
during the Women's Human Rights Training.
My husband is not the only cause of the violence I suffered; it
is related to his surroundings, it is about the whole society.
People are influenced by their surroundings. As we talked with
my husband, in time everything in our relationship changed.
Now, my husband says, "I am proud of you". I ask him, how
come you are proud of me now and not when I was doing
LESSONS LEARNED: MAINTAINING SUCCESS
HREP’s success rests o n a n u m b er o f co m ple m e n t ary
factors related to both the program’s methodology and
its content.
First, the holistic and comprehensive nature of the pro-
gram—reflecting the indivisibility of human rights—pro-
vides a substantial frame w ork in w hich to promote the
h u m a n rig h ts o f w o m e n. A n d b eca use viola tio ns o f
w omen’s human rights often occur hand-in-hand with
discrimination, a comprehensive program such as ours
also e n a bles w o m e n t o overco m e t h e discrimin a tio n
t h ey f ace in dif f ere n t sp h eres.
Th e pro gram’s p articip a t ory n a t ure, allo w in g w o me n
to explore their human rights through personal experi-
e nces, gives ro o m t o lin k u niversal co nce p ts a n d n a-
tional legislation with private situations and concerns.
Th e le n g t h o f t h e pro gra m allo ws p articip a n ts t o d e-
velo p a f e elin g o f solid arity, a n d t o re ach a n u n d er-
standing that the violations and discrimination they face
are not unique to themselves—that they are not alone
in their struggle to realize their rights.
The w eekly meetings and 16-module program also al-
lo w w omen to internalize the kno wledge and skills they
gain. They have the time and space to apply w hat they
everything you told me, and not resisting your abuses? He
understood that I am defending my pride as a woman. He even
visited our Women's Human Rights Training group of ten
women, and said, "I am proud of my wife, what I have done is
wrong".
After the Women's Human Rights Training, my children and I
have better communication. We experience beautiful things
with my husband. For two years now, he has not touched a hair
on my head. To me the old days seem like scenes from a movie.
I do not even cry when I recall those times, because I can not
believe that I actually lived all those things. If I had the mind
that I do now, I would not stand any of that. I would have left,
ran away. But I did not know anything then, I was alone.
Now everything is different. I want to live. My husband re-
spects me as a human being, as a woman. I want to partake in
every activity that I can, I want to travel. I want to start
working again; I am looking for a job. I have been bored
because I was unemployed for the last year and a half. Never-
theless, I am peaceful. Because there is no more violence. My
children are growing up in a good environment. There is no
shouting, no beating, and no blood. I am a different woman
now.
Halise, HREP participan
Promoting women’s human rights in Turkey 11
 We live in the capital city but
we are not aware of what goes on in this
acq uire in HREP,
country. In our day, we could not defend our
a n d t o sh a r e
own rights; we were brought up in ignorance. I do
t h e r esu l ts.
not want my daughter, my son or my daughter-in-law to
The group
experience what I have lived through. I have to make this
p r o ce ss a l-
happen. I have seen that through the Women’s Human Rights
lo ws them
Training Program. I have changed my husband as well; but it is
t o e x p r e ss
not only my husband, our society has to change. And this will
t h e i r i n d i-
happen in time. And most important of all, I now live for
vidual expe-
myself. I had not recognized my own individual existence,
rie nces a n d
desires; I had forgotten about the people out there and how
needs, w hile
to talk to them. Now I travel and talk to my heart’s desire,
and I write freely, without fear.
acq uirin g a
co nscio usn ess
o f t h e in h ere n t
Turkan, a participant from Ankara, Central
co n n ectio n b e-
Anatolia
tween their individual
exp erie nces a n d t h e h u-
ma n rig h ts viola tio ns exp eri-
e nce d by w o m e n in g e n eral. It also
enables them to develop strategies, through the assis-
t a nce a n d f e e d b ack o f gro u p p articip a n ts, t o a d dress
their o w n problems, w hile listening to and helping oth-
ers in re t urn. For m a ny w o m e n, t h e first st e p t o w ards
e m p o w erm e n t is t h e re aliz a tio n t h a t t h eir pro ble ms
are rooted not in private issues, but in social ones.
As w o m e n se arch f or stra t e gies t o a p ply t h eir n e w
knowledge to their lives, they receive support from both
the trainer and their fello w participants. They develop
co mm o n t actics t o d e al w it h n e g a tive resp o nses fro m
others and to prevent common human rights violations
in their communities, and they become conscious of the
importance of organized action. Since the program pro-
vid es tim e f or w o m e n t o exp erie nce ch a n g es in t h eir
o w n a t tit u d es a n d actio ns, t h ey are a ble t o evalu a t e
such changes within the group and share obstacles and
successes t hro u g h o u t. Th e e m p o w erm e n t process is
gradual and substantial, since there is the opportunity
t o tra nsf er a w are n ess b e t w e e n t h e gro u p discussio ns
and everyday life and practice.
O ur p art n ership w it h Social Services a n d t h e co m m u-
nity ce n t ers h as also co n trib u t e d sig nifica n tly t o t h e
success o f t h e pro gra m, e nsurin g its exp a nsio n a n d
sustainability, and allo wing us to train qualified social
w ork ers as train ers. Particip a n ts are a ble t o re t urn t o
t h e co m m u nity ce n t ers a n d train ers f or f urt h er su p-
port, and the venues help strengthen relationships with
o t h er w o m e n a n d t h e co m m u nity. Eve n a t t h e local
level, t h e n, t h e pro gra m d o es n o t t a k e place in a
vacuum.
Th e d e dica tio n o f t h e train ers h as also b e e n a gre a t
m o tiva tio n, a n d t h eir e f f orts t o involve pro f essio n als
such as police, teachers, and mid wives have further ex-
tended the impact o f the program.
12
Finally, HREP’s success is connected as w ell to the close
monitoring and supervision provided by W W HR–Ne w
W ays. W hile p articip a n ts f e el t h a t t h ey are p art o f a
larger struggle for w omen’s human rights, they are also
able to obtain support and capacity building on a local
level. W W HR–N e w W ays acts as a n e q u al p art n er
through the training and grassroots organizing process,
providin g participan ts an d gro u ps t he space t o act, t o
organize, and to devise their o w n strategies according
to their o w n needs.
Obstacles and challenges in
partnering with the state
D espit e t h e overall success o f HREP a n d p ositive f ee d-
b ack fro m train ers a n d p articip a n ts, m ain t ainin g t h e
sustainability and momentum of such an extensive pro-
gram over a decade has been challenging. W e have, for
instance, faced a change in the administration of Social
Services, w it h n e w g overn m e n t st a f f a n d n e w social
w ork ers a p p oin t e d t o k ey p osts. W e h ave also b e e n
ch alle n g e d t o m o tiva t e o ur st a t e p art n ers t o e nsure
the continuation o f the program, and to continue fill-
in g t h e pro gra m’s n e e d f or sig nifica n t h u m a n a n d fi-
nancial reso urces. A no ther major challenge w e f ace is
t h a t social services is u n d erst a f f e d a n d social w ork ers
are overw helmed by their w orkload, but the high moti-
vation and dedication of trainers to the program helps
to face this challenge.
Sustaining and expanding HREP and its partnership with
the state has been a particular challenge. The program’s
im p act o n t h e local level, h o w ever—t h e tra nsf orm a-
tio n it cre a t es in p articip a n ts, t h e e n t h usiasm it raises
in trainers, an d t he co n trib u tio ns it makes in t he com-
munity centers—has been a driving f orce, helping the
program survive through changes in government and
administration. The good relationships we maintain with
t h e mid-level b ure a ucra ts a t t h e G e n eral Direct ora t e
w h o are in ch arg e o f t h e ce n tral co ordin a tio n o f t h e
Community Centers have led them to stand up f or the
pro gra m, a n d w e h ave m a d e sure t o est a blish o p e n
communication with ne wly appointed directors to sus-
tain the partnership.
The financial and physical resources contributed by the
General Directorate have helped us overcome the chal-
le n g es o f sust ainin g HREP. W it h social w ork ers im ple-
m e n tin g t h e pro gra m as p art o f t h eir jo b d escrip tio n,
the program utilizes the human resources of the state.
Th e ce n t ers also provid e sp ace f or t h e pro gra m, a n d
t he General Direct orate pays f or t he p h o t oco pyin g o f
extra train in g m a t erials. Th ere f o re, eve n t h o u g h
W W HR–N e w W ays is prim arily resp o nsible f or t h e fi-
nancial cost, implementation and monitoring, the Gen-
e r a l D ir ect o r a t e a n d co m m u n i t y ce n t e rs act iv e ly
partake in and contribute to the program.
Top: HREP Evaluation and Grassroots Organizing Meeting with
Trainers, 2003.
Bottom: Opening Ceremony of the Women’s Counselling Center in
Canakkale, founded by HREP participants after the program, 2002.
Tactic results: Supporting women’s
multi-level transformation
PERSONAL AND FAMILY IMPACT
W hile it is not common for organizations to commission
ext ern al evalu a tio ns o f t h eir pro gra ms, w e t h o u g h t
that such research w ould equip us with more concrete
feedback on HREP. A n external evaluation of HREP w as
co n d uct e d in 2002 w it h a p proxim a t ely 20 p erce n t o f
p articip a n ts, a n d reve ale d t h a t t h e tra nsf orm a tio n
w omen experienced occurred on many levels.
The evaluation indicated, for example, that participat-
in g in HREP increased self-co n fidence in 93 percen t o f
respondents, w hile 90 percent reported gro w th in their
pro ble m-solvin g a bilities. In f ocus gro u p discussio ns,
t h ese results w ere o f t e n articula t e d as b ein g a ble t o
reco g niz e o n eself as a n in divid u al w it h h u m a n rig h ts
and to pursue solutions to problems.
Rela t io nsh ips w it h in t h e f a mily also tra nsf o rm e d
greatly. W hile 72 percen t o f t he participan ts rep orted
that the attitudes of their husbands to w ards them im-
Top: First HREP Trainer Training Closing Ceremony, 1998.
Bottom: HREP Group in Izmit, Northwestern Anatolia.
prove d, 93 p erce n t re p ort e d t h a t t h eir o w n a t tit u d es
to w ards their children improved, in particular with re-
gards to gender-sensitive parenting. Seventy-four per-
ce n t st a t e d t h a t t h ey n o w h a d gre a t er say in f a mily
decision-making processes.
A n o t h er sig nifica n t fin din g w as t h e ext e n t t o w hich
w omen w ere able to stop or decrease violence in their
lives. Sixty-three percent of the w omen w ho had faced
d o m estic viole nce b e f ore t h e trainin g re p ort e d t h ey
w ere a ble t o st o p it, a n d 22 p erce n t w ere a ble t o re-
duce it. M any w omen also began to w ork (30 percent)
or re t urn e d t o p ursu e t h eir f ormal or in f ormal e d uca-
tio n (54 percen t) a f ter t he trainin g pro gram.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
HREP as a source and tool for grassroots organizing
initiatives
Th e rese arch also clarifie d HREP’s im p act in t h e larg er
co m m u nity. Eig h ty-eig h t p erce n t o f t h e w o m e n w h o
p articip a t e d in t h e pro gra m re p ort e d t h a t t h ey h a d
become resource people in their communities, provid-
ing guiding and advice to other w omen.
Promoting women’s human rights in Turkey 13
A major o u tcome o f HREP has been t he emergence o f the management of the centers, providing counseling
local grassroots w omen’s organizations. Since collective and support services f or w omen, and raising f unds f or
action and mobilization for social change remains one t h e ce n t ers.
o f t h e pro gra m’s ce n tral o bjectives, t h e f act t h a t so
many local initiatives have emerged from the program M ost emerging groups organize series of consciousness-
constitutes a major success. W W HR–Ne w W ays has con- raising activities, reach out to w omen in their commu-
tin u o usly su p p ort e d t h ese gro u ps over t h e ye ars, as nities, a n d t a k e actio n aro u n d co m m u nity issu es.
t h ey sig nify t h e bro a d er im p act o f HREP o n local a n d W o m e n a t t h e G a zi District in Ist a n b ul h ave f o u n d e d
national levels. the Kybele Cooperative, and, in conjunction with their
economic activities, run a local campaign to establish a
Th ese grassro o ts initia tives display a ra n g e o f diverse kin d erg art e n. W o m e n w h o h ave p articip a t e d in t h e
aims a n d struct ures st e m min g fro m local n e e ds a n d program in Van have established the first w omen’s as-
priorities. Some are geared to w ards w omen’s economic sociation in Eastern A natolia, an d a w omen’s co u nsel-
e m p o w erm e n t, w hile o t h ers f ocus o n activities t h a t ing and training center.
raise co m m u nity co nscio usn ess a n d su p p ort f or local
w o m e n. A n d so m e co m bin e eco n o mic, social, a n d/or
p o li t ica l act ivi t ies t o
pro m o t e w o m e n’s h u-
ma n rig h ts. W o me n in
D i y a r b a k i r, f o r e x-
a m ple, t h e m ost eco-
n o m i c a l l y
disa dva n t a g e d re gio n
o f Turk ey, h ave est a b-
lished a Candle Produc-
tio n A t elier in w hich
t h e y p r o d uce h a n d-
m a d e ca n dles a n d sell
t h e m t o l oca l st o r es
a n d a n a tio n al su p er-
m ark e t ch ain. Th ey
also m a n a g e a p u blic
kindergarten in
Diyarbakir.

Th e w o m e n w orkin g
on emerging initiatives
s u ch a s t h e s e s h a r e
t h eir exp erie nces a n d
r e s o u rc e s w i t h o n e
o t h e r. W o m e n f r o m
Ca n a k k ale, f or in-
st a nce, h ave receive d
t r a i n i n g o n r ecycl e d
paper production from
t h e Purple Pa p er Pro-
d uctio n A t elier in
O k m eyd a n i Ist a n b u l,
a n d h ave st art e d t h eir
o w n a t elier. M a ny o f
the initiatives (A nkara,
Ca n a k k ale, Edirn e,
Aydin) w ork in collabo-
ra tio n w it h t h eir local Top: HREP Participants in 8th of March Demon-
strations with WWHR–New Ways Team.
community centers, ac-
Bottom: Cities throughout Turkey where HREP has
tively co n trib u tin g t o been implemented.

14

O n e o f t h e b est exa m ples o f grassro o ts org a nizin g
e m erg in g f ro m t h e pro gra m, t h e A ssocia t io n f or
Women’s Labour in Canakkale, began as an association
to promote w omen’s economic and political empo w er-
men t. Over t he years its members have held extensive
trainings, conferences, and w orkshops on w omen’s hu-
man rights issues, and have established great influence
in the local governance. In 2003 they opened a Women’s
Counseling Center, and in 2005 they hosted the Eighth
National Women’s Shelter and Counseling Center Sum-
mit, brin gin g t o g e t h er w o me n’s NG Os fro m t hro u g h-
out Turkey.
The grassroots initiatives emerging from the program
demonstrate the transformative nature of the program
for both individuals and communities. A fter participat-
in g in t h e pro gra m, w o m e n are a ble t o st a n d u p t o-
g e t h er f or t h eir rig h ts, t o ch alle n g e a n d elimin a t e
discrimin a tio n a g ainst t h e mselves in a w id e ra n g e o f
co n t exts, a n d t o pro m o t e w o m e n’s h u m a n rig h ts a n d
equality on local and national levels. Grassroots NG Os
a n d initia tives t h a t e m erg e fro m t h e pro gra m a f firm
t h e solid arity b e t w e e n w o m e n a n d ext e n d it t o t h e
public sphere, transforming the w eb of local po w er dy-
namics and putting gender on the agendas of decision-
m a k ers.
Transferring the tactic
HREP and our partnership with a state agency to imple-
me n t a co m pre h e nsive a n d w id espre a d h u ma n rig h ts
training program have proven successful on numerous
levels. As w ell as transf orming w omen’s lives on a per-
sonal basis, HREP has also resulted in collective mobili-
zation f or social change and the realization o f human
rights for w omen.
To im ple m e n t such a t actic, yo u n e e d t o ext e nsively
assess the needs and the feedback of your target group.
D oin g so w ill give yo u cre dibility, itself a crucial a n d
powerful foundation for engaging and developing part-
n erships w it h st a t e a g e ncies. Id e as f or e nsurin g t h a t
yo ur pro gra m is w id espre a d a n d sust ain a ble w ill b e
helpful as w ell. Keep in mind, ho w ever, that the agency
and the individuals you approach must be carefully se-
lected in order to ensure fruitful cooperation. With the
frequent shifts in po w er and politics found in state bu-
re a ucracies, t his rela tio nship m ust b e co n tin u ally f os-
tered, nurtured and developed.
In terms o f initiating a partnership and envisioning its
co n tin uity, yo u must p ay grea t a t t e n tio n t o t h e provi-
sions in the protocol—the signing of an official partner-
ship agreement—and to each area of cooperation and
collaboration. You should be certain that the protocol
includes the follo wing: 1) provisions that ensure a long
time span—beyond the current administrator; 2) clear
Once we completed the
Women’s Human Rights Training
co n d i t i o ns f o r a n n u l- Program, we immediately moved to or-
ment or alterations by ganize among ourselves, as a group of par-
the government; and ticipants. We decided to put into practice the
3) clear and set obli- things we have learned during the training and to
g a tio ns f or e ach implement our rights and to be a part of the women’s
p arty. A n esse n tial movement in Turkey. As women, we experience dis-
co n d it io n o f o ur crimination in our own lives and see it happen to
p a r t n e rsh i p , f o r other women around us. We have to fight against
exa m ple, w as e n- this discrimination against women. We realized that
surin g t h a t t h e it is necessary to be organized as a group in order to
co n t e n t o f t h e h u- succeed. Thus we decided to acquire a legal identity
m a n rig h ts e d uca- and form an association. We aim to ensure that the
tio n pro gram co uld women in Canakkale actively participate in the
n o t b e alt ere d a n d social, economic and political spheres. Our ul-
that the program timate objective is to put an end to the vio-
m ust b e co n tin u o usly lence against women.
implemented by trainers.
Gulay, participant from Canakkale,
Colla b ora tio n w it h a st a t e West Turkey
agency requires longstanding, close
and continuous relationships with head-
q u art ers a t t h e n a tio n al level a n d w it h train ers a t t h e
local one. These relationships must be continuously main-
t ain e d, a n d stre n g t h e n e d over tim e. W e f o u n d t h a t
coming together in meetings, social events and a w ards
ceremonies w as useful in enhancing dialogue and rela-
tionships.
To implement a long-term and sustainable human rights
e d uca tio n pro gram, it is esse n tial t o sust ain t h e dyn a-
mism of the program and the motivation of its groups.
This re q uires a process f or co nst a n tly revisin g a n d u p-
dating the program according to current needs and par-
ticip a n t f e e d b ack, a n d f or revie w in g o bjectives a n d
stra t e gies.
W W HR–Ne w W ays’ experience with HREP has indicated
that the program is a very important and useful tool in
promoting w omen’s human rights on personal and col-
lective levels, in both private and public spheres.
O ur p art n ership w it h a st a t e a g e ncy h as cre a t e d a
broad and sustainable outreach for the program, con-
trib u tin g t o its im p act o n t h e local level. D espit e t h e
ch alle n g es, t h e p ast d eca d e o f HREP h as sh o w n t h a t
such a partnership can be highly beneficial and produc-
tive for all parties involved. W e have also been able to
prove t h a t, w h e n provid e d w it h t h e n ecessary skills,
k n o w le d g e a n d su p p ort, w o me n are a ble t o m o biliz e
f or t h eir rig h ts a n d social ch a n g e. Thro u g h HREP,
w o m e n h ave b e e n a ble t o exercise t h eir rig h ts as h u-
man beings, individuals, citizens and members of orga-
nizations.
Promoting women’s human rights in Turkey 15
References
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Ilkkaracan, I., Ilkkaracan, P., et al. Human Rights Educa-

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