TRABZON Women’s NGOs
UNJP Local Facilitator Sinem Mısırlıoğlu talked to representatives from women’s NGOs in Trabzon:
 The United Nations Joint Programme to Protect and Promote the Human Rights of Women and Girls (UNJP) brought together the women’s organizations in our province. It reminded us, the NGOs, that it is time to share, cooperate and engage in joint work. Through working in this programme, women realized that they have the power to work together and that they are not alone. We are waiting for the institutions and organizations in Trabzon to realize that there are many things to be done for women in terms of education, social life and economy. However, we are also very well aware of the time we have lost by just waiting. We are, now, aware that all of us have to work together to improve women’s position in the society and engage them in participating in decisions about themselves. The prospective projects have to be realistic, focus on solutions, and be beneficial to women from every part of the society. If we think of the Programme as the first step, the next step falls on us, Turkish Mothers Association’s Trabzon branch. We, as an association, have a lot to do for our women, girls and mothers, who are not educated, who are unable to claim their rights, who don’t have sufficient skills and economic freedom. We would like to thank the Programme staff who have provided us consultancy and guidance. We are ready to cooperate in joint projects and efforts with all the NGOs and other organizations. (Turkish Mothers Association, Trabzon Branch)
 With the help of the UNJP, all the stakeholders in the local level involved in women’s problems came together to find solutions, and we produced solutions. We believe that the greatest contribution of the Programme was facilitating all the stakeholders to come together. Joint projects and joint efforts with local governments helped to create a platform for a strong, sustainable cooperation. This cooperation will be very useful when the time comes for the Local Equality Action Plans, prepared within the Programme, to be implemented. (Turkish Women Union)
Even though there has been substantial developments with respect to the legal regulations on the human rights of women and girls in the recent years, the laws and regulations are still insufficient, and there are crucial problems in their execution. In order to overcome these problems, important efforts are much needed and projects need to be put into implementation. These efforts and projects need resources and management. The UNJP is the most beneficial initiative in that respect. Especially, the inclusion of new partners and their support into the Joint Programme has increased the effectiveness and potential success of the Programme. Our association has benefited and will benefit from the Programme immensely. We would like to thank everyone involved in the Programme. (Cemile Keskin, All Women’s Association)
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