A protest was held in Lefkoşa against the conservative policies being implemented in the country. In line with March 8, International Women’s Day, the action was supported by some political parties and organizations who met at the Kumsal Park in Lefkoşa and proceeded to the parliament building.
The Cyprus Turkish Secondary School Teachers Union (KTOEÖS) Board Member Çağrı Arslan, read a statement in front of the parliament building.
It noted that while the natural disaster experienced caused unnatural destruction, the earthquake had socially and economically affected women, children, laborers, and LGBTIs the most.
“Women are claimants from the state and employers”
The statement also noted, “The state withdrawing from social policies, and displaying a conservative policy on the economic crisis and religion is the first targets of the distorted order. This distorted order is mainly targeting Women, children, laborers, and, LGBTI+’s.”
In the statement of women being claimants from the state and employers, “The experienced Labor exploitation and the discrimination suffered were asked to be accounted for.”
-Demands…
The statement, “Isias killers are tried and sentenced with the heaviest punishment; increasing building control measures; halting the construction of the Presidential Palace complex; Transfering the budget allocated to the Religious Affairs Department and the Evkaf Foundation to Social Services; opening women’s shelter and violence prevention-counseling centers in every district; the implementation of the Istanbul convention and the enactment of the Prevention of Domestic Violence Law; a law that bans pregnant women being dismissed from work; the establishment of Child Monitoring Centers; the infrastructure implementation for the notification helpline 183; the Organization of TOCED; the dismissal of Ahmet Ünsal the Head of Religious Affairs from his position, and the annulment of his exceptional citizenship; and demands such as adding courses on human rights and gender equality to the curriculum” were listed.
