Fokus Türkei en+ Berichte+ Einschätzungen+ Analysen+ Berichte+ Einschätzungen+ Beri Helin Uçar Dec. 2009 Women’s Rights in Turkey: Interaction of State and Non-State Actors in the Implementation of Judicial Equality 1. Abstract The women’s movement in Turkey secured a remarkable achievement by convincing the parliament to adopt their claims in the recent reforms of the Civil Code(2002) and the new Penal Code(2004), which were passed in order to meet the Copenhagen Criteria of the European Union. Now, the crucial challenge ahead lies in implementing these laws. This article explores the process of codifying and implementing these norms with special regard to the challenges of interaction between state and non-state actors. This article will first begin by describing the role of the feminist women’s movement since the 1980s and the current status of women in Turkey. Second, specific aspects of implementing norms for equality will be analyzed on the basis of recently amended norms that prohibit and prevent violence against women. Third, the interaction of state and non-state actors will be analyzed with special regard to the impact on the process of implementation. The underlying hypothesis emphasizes the fundamental role of non-governmental actors in preventing violence against women and promoting fundamental change that is sustainable and coherent. 2. Women’s Rights in Turkey In order to have a better understanding of current developments, this section focuses on the independent women’s rights movement and the challenges of progress in the historical context. Furthermore, the living conditions of women and in particular the prevalence of violence against women will be presented. 2.1. Historical Context and the Challenge of Implementation Historically, the Turkish Republic has undergone two periods in which major improvements were made with regard to the status of women. One was in the 1920s, the early years of the Republic, when Shari’a was abolished and Turkish women were first granted civil rights, and the second was in 1934 when women also gained political rights. 1 Although the reforms led to full citizenship for women, the abolition of polygamy and the granting of all civic rights including political rights to women, restrictions in the family law, the Civil Code, identical with the Swiss Civil Code, and the Penal Code, consistent with Referat: Westliche Industrieländer www.fes.de/international