"Women's rights in Turkey slowly improving
17.03.2005 - 09:51 CET | By Meghan Sapp
Despite the continued obvious inequality between men and women in Turkey, the country is making efforts to change perceptions towards women as it looks to join the EU.
Speaking at a European Parliament public hearing on the status of women�s rights in Turkey Wednesday (16 March), the Turkish national government�s only female minister, G�dal Aksit, said that her country has united with media, schools, and NGOs in fighting violence against women.
'Turkey is doing everything it can in regards to human rights', said the minister of state.
'The important thing is that women take the place they are entitled to', she said.
Ms Aksit condemned police brutality on 6 March against women demonstrating in Turkey for gender equality.
She said the event was caused by a lack of proper police training adding that three of the officers had been suspended while others may yet be once the investigation is concluded.
Though gender-based inequality is a fact in Turkey, it is not uniform around the country, university professor Dr. Feride Acar told the hearing.
'Turkish migrants in the west and north of Europe demonstrate the worst cases of inequality', said Dr Acar."
More:EUobserver.com
