Women in Northern Cyprus

The women in Northern Cyprus are inhabitants of the internationally-unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, where they have been contributors to the fields of science, law and justice.^[1]

Politics

Constraints affecting women who have entered politics in Northern Cyprus include investing time for home, motherhood, family, and political life. Women are restricted from entering places that are mainly for men such as those known as "men's coffeehouses" because such an act would cause the loss of public respect, thus harming the women's political career.^{[2][unreliable source?][3]}

Female politicians

As of 2010, there were only 7 female Northern Cypriots who held high-level positions in the Parliament of Northern Cyprus.^[2] The posts that the women occupied included parliamentarian and ministerial jobs, such as the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the appointed Minister of Education. Fatma Ekenoğlu was the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Onur Borman was the Minister of the Ministry of Economy and Finance and was also the Minister of the Ministry of Public Works between 1993 and 1999. Gülsen Bozkurt was the former Minister of the Ministry of Health. Gülin Sayiner was one of the first two elected female member of the Parliament of Northern Cyprus (Republican Assembly) and served from 1987 to 1993.^[1] Şerife Ünverdi is now the Minister of Labor and Social Security.^[4] These women were able to reach out to voters of Northern Cyprus because of their medical backgrounds.^[2][3]

In February 29, 1980, Gönül Başaran Erönen became the first female Justice of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. She was also appointed as the first female District Court Judge in Cyprus. At present, she is the only female justice of the Supreme Court on the whole island of Cyprus.^[5]

Organizations

The first and only^[6] academic research and training center for women in Northern Cyprus is the Center for Women's Studies (CWS) of the Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU). It was established on November 17, 1998.^[7] A project known as "First Steps For A Women's Shelter" was launched in Northern Cyprus by Turkcell and the Foundation for Prevention of Social Risks in order to celebrate International Women's Day.^{[8][unreliable source?]} An education project for young women of Northern Cyprus was started seven years ago by the Turkish Women's Philanthropic Association (TWPA).^[9]

See also

• Human rights in Northern Cyprus

References

1. ^ ^{a b} Women's Role in Turkish-Cypriot Society
2. ^ ^{a b c} Yirmibeolu, Gözde. Constraints on Women Politicians in Northern Cyprus - Research Essay, January 10, 2010
3. ^ ^{a b} Yirmibeolu, Gözde. Constraints on Women Politicians in Northern Cyprus
4. ^ MESSAGES HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY PRESIDENT DERVIS EROGLU, PRIME MINISTER IRSEN KUCUK AND MINISTER OF LABOR AND SOCIAL SECURITY SERIFE UNVERDI (BRT) Retrieved 2010-05-06.
5. ^ Gönül Başaran Erönen, First woman Justice of the T.R. of Northern Cyprus], Turkish-Cypriot Women, People & Life, cypnet.co.uk
6. ^ Center for Women's Studies(CWS), fsd.org.qa
7. ^ CENTER FOR WOMEN’S STUDIES (CWS), Eastern Mediterranean University, emu.edu.tr
8. ^ World belongs to women for a day-Northern Cyprus, cyprusq.com
9. ^ The Federation of International Women's Association in London, fiwal.org.uk

Further reading

• Lisaniler, Fatma Guven. Gender Equality in North Cyprus (Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus), 8 pages.

External links

• Turkish Cypriot Human Rights Foundation